Dispatcher Radio Techniques

The professional Dispatcher role is vital to the delivery of public-safety services.

A Dispatcher’s role is “vital” to the safety and well-being of every officer in-the-field.

How the dispatcher performs their duties reaches far beyond sending units on calls for service. The dispatcher’s skills help maintain officer safety and serves as a “safety net” in times of trouble.

The radio dispatcher has multiple responsibilities that must be performed with skill and expertise simultaneously.

Among them are:

• Setting the tone. The dispatcher’s tone, volume, inflection, pitch, and word choice all affect how a message is received. Those who sound competent on the radio will be perceived that way, even by officers who do not know them.

• Communication of information clearly via established protocols in plain English and accepted Signal codes.

• Controlled use of radio airtime by following the ABC’s of dispatch of being accurate, brief, and clear.

• Anticipate the needs of field units.

• Concentrate and eliminate distractions

• Assist officers and fulfill requests in a prioritized and timely manner.

This course covers the salient “must know and be conversant on” techniques every professional 911 emergency dispatcher should be well-trained on and much more….