Any Dispatchers here?

[janus408]

I have a question for Dispatchers: Is there such a thing as a 'ride-along' as it would pertain to dispatchers?

I know LEOs do these so that citizens can get an idea of what they do, and I have done several all over the Bay Area. But I am looking at becoming a dispatcher, and before I throw all of my energy at becoming one, I want to see what the job is like in person.

I have been to dispatch centers in the past, but I have never sat for an entire shift with a dispatcher to see what the career is really like.

Is that possible?

Feel free to PM me if you dont want to have a public conversation.

[Baconator]

Yes. I am not one, but did a "sit-along" with a local police department dispatch center. Contact the department you are interested in and ask.

[jay_cue]

make sure you try to go during peak hours. otherwise you'll be sitting there bored out of your mind. weekend day time hours aren't too exciting either. I'm not sure if they'll let you come in at night, but during bar hours it gets pretty busy and at night you have a higher likely of hearing a pursuit.

[Spyder]

A buddy of mine's gf just got hired as one. She did a sit along shift as part of her hiring process. Not sure how to go about asking for it though!

[Ntpphong]

contact the local police department where you want to do the sit-along and they should be able to help you. Usually a fingerprint/background check will be done before they let you in, same as interns. I am dispatching for LASD. Any questions you have just let me know.

[drifter001]

im a dispatcher but for 911 based ambulance company lol

[TKM]

People are generally discouraged unless they are actually in the hiring process.

CHP varies from boring paperwork to depends requiring pursuits followed by more paperwork.. SO was just more interesting all the way around. You know, actual police work.

[CBR_rider]

Yes, it is possible. As has already been stated, it is up to each individual agency though as to when/who does them though. I definitely second the idea of trying to go during peak hours...

[tnlrat37]

I've got friends and family who do it, hours of boredom with minutes of crazy. I sat along with them for awhile and I couldn't do it. They dispatch for 3 different cities and handle 911 calls all at the same time on different channels and the phone. They had 5 monitors in front of them and it looked like chaos to me. They are very under appreciated and many times don't even hear the end result of many calls unless the officer tells them afterward. Good luck, its not for everyone