What does a public safety dispatcher do?
A public safety dispatcher is primarily responsible for handling emergency or non-emergency calls from the public. They are in charge of identifying the caller's needs calmly and proactively, dispatching law enforcement officers or emergency responders at the scene in a timely and efficient manner. They must operate communications equipment, manage schedules, and quickly adapt to any situation as the calls can be unpredictable and critical. Furthermore, as a public safety dispatcher, it is essential to maintain records of all calls and interactions, adhering to the organization's policies and regulations at all times.
Public safety dispatcher responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real public safety dispatcher resumes:
- Manage the response and allocation of police, fire, ems personnel when call for service.
- Provide a and CPR instructions.
- Conduct layperson CPR instruction to local communities.
- Train entry dispatchers on Fire/EMS call taking and dispatching.
- Provide determinant dispatch codes base on EMD and EFD standards.
- Job duties are the answering, processing and dispatching of police, fire and ems services.
- Used NCIC database to run tags, drivers licenses, and people to check for warrants or other information.
- Dispatch employee panel that over view the creation and writing of the policy involve with EMD along with the management team.
- Maintain reports and retrieve needed statistical information using the local authorities and national NCIC system.
- Maintain contact with police supervisory personnel to coordinate patrol activities, provide mutual assistance during emergency situations.
- Receive telephone complaints concerning crimes and police emergencies and dispatch appropriate police patrol units by radio to investigate.
- Answer emergency calls/dispatch police fire and sheriff, enter and cancel stolen property and vehicles, run criminal history
- Perform duties in DCI with other NC state agencies as well as federal and other state agencies when require.
- Utilize FBI NLETS teletype system for warrant entry as well as vehicle and person identification.
- Certify by APCO as a nationally recognize emergency dispatcher.
Public safety dispatcher skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Public Safety Dispatchers are proficient in Computer Aided Dispatch, Customer Service, and CAD. They’re also known for soft skills such as Ability to multitask, Communication skills, and Empathy.
We break down the percentage of Public Safety Dispatchers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Computer Aided Dispatch, 15%
Answer telephone to receive emergency or non-emergency calls; obtain necessary information and enter information into computer aided dispatch system.
- Customer Service, 6%
Worked in stress-filled environment dispatching police, fire and ambulance to emergency calls Handled high volume of non-emergency customer service request.
- CAD, 6%
Fire and Medical Emergencies Input information into a central computerized CAD system Broadcast Emergency information and standardized radio codes
- Patrol, 5%
Received telephone complaints concerning crimes and police emergencies and dispatched appropriate police patrol units by radio to investigate.
- Dispatch System, 4%
Operate telephone, radio, and computer-aided dispatch system to receive and disseminate critical information.
- NCIC, 3%
Maintained reports and retrieved needed statistical information using the local authorities and national NCIC system.
"computer aided dispatch," "customer service," and "cad" are among the most common skills that public safety dispatchers use at work. You can find even more public safety dispatcher responsibilities below, including:
Ability to multitask. The most essential soft skill for a public safety dispatcher to carry out their responsibilities is ability to multitask. This skill is important for the role because "public safety telecommunicators must stay calm in order to simultaneously answer calls, collect vital information, coordinate responders, monitor multiple displays, and use a variety of equipment." Additionally, a public safety dispatcher resume shows how their duties depend on ability to multitask: "provide emd (emergency medical dispatch) instructions to callers. "
Communication skills. Many public safety dispatcher duties rely on communication skills. "public safety telecommunicators work with law enforcement, emergency response teams, and civilians," so a public safety dispatcher will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways public safety dispatcher responsibilities rely on communication skills: "partnered in communication with local emergency response personnel including but not limited to police, fire, and ems departments. "
Empathy. public safety dispatchers are also known for empathy, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to public safety dispatcher responsibilities, because "public safety telecommunicators must be willing to help a range of callers with varying needs." A public safety dispatcher resume example shows how empathy is used in the workplace: "displayed patience, caring, and understanding until police, fire, or ems arrived on the scene. "
Listening skills. For certain public safety dispatcher responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "listening skills." The day-to-day duties of a public safety dispatcher rely on this skill, as "public safety telecommunicators must listen carefully to collect relevant details, even though some callers might have trouble speaking because of anxiety or stress." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what public safety dispatchers do: "communicated with officers on two way radio system and monitored officers while at each call. "
Typing skills. Another crucial skill for a public safety dispatcher to carry out their responsibilities is "typing skills." A big part of what public safety dispatchers relies on this skill, since "public safety telecommunicators enter the details of calls into computers; typing speed and accuracy are essential when responding to emergencies." How this skill relates to public safety dispatcher duties can be seen in an example from a public safety dispatcher resume snippet: "evaluated the information and created cad system incident by typing live conversation and command strings into a cad system. "
The three companies that hire the most public safety dispatchers are:
- Emory Healthcare8 public safety dispatchers jobs
- Houston Methodist6 public safety dispatchers jobs
- Novant Health5 public safety dispatchers jobs
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Compare different public safety dispatchers
Public safety dispatcher vs. 911 telecommunicator
A Telecommunication Operator handles all incoming calls and transfers them when necessary to appropriate quarters. As a Telecommunication operator, you will be tasked with responding to inquiries, answering messages, and passing along communication to the right individuals. In addition to that, you will be tasked with organizing the telephone directory and performing a host of other administrative tasks. You will also have the responsibility of processing packages and incoming mails and delivering outgoing mails and packages to the post office or other shipping facilities.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, public safety dispatcher responsibilities require skills like "customer service," "patrol," "criminal justice," and "good judgment." Meanwhile a typical 911 telecommunicator has skills in areas such as "medical dispatch," "non-emergency telephone calls," "emergency situations," and "apco." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, 911 telecommunicators reach similar levels of education than public safety dispatchers. 911 telecommunicators are 1.7% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Public safety dispatcher vs. 911 operator
A call taker works at a call or dispatch center, where they are primarily in charge of answering calls, identifying the callers' needs, and coordinating services to assist them right away. Although their responsibilities depend on their company or industry of employment, it usually involves answering inquiries, processing requests, arranging appointments or reservations, and handling issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently. When it comes to employment, a call taker may work for 911 dispatch centers, taxi companies, towing services, and private hotlines.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that public safety dispatcher responsibilities requires skills like "customer service," "patrol," "criminal justice," and "good judgment." But a 911 operator might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "medical dispatch," "multi-line phone system," "non-emergency telephone calls," and "ran."
Average education levels between the two professions vary. 911 operators tend to reach similar levels of education than public safety dispatchers. In fact, they're 1.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Public safety dispatcher vs. Telecommunication operator
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from public safety dispatcher resumes include skills like "patrol," "criminal justice," "good judgment," and "non-emergency phone calls," whereas a telecommunication operator is more likely to list skills in "patients," "emergency situations," "non-emergency calls," and "telecommunication. "
Telecommunication operators earn the highest salary when working in the government industry, where they receive an average salary of $45,658. Comparatively, public safety dispatchers have the highest earning potential in the government industry, with an average salary of $39,953.telecommunication operators typically earn similar educational levels compared to public safety dispatchers. Specifically, they're 1.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Public safety dispatcher vs. Call taker
Types of public safety dispatcher
Updated January 8, 2025
