JUST A DISPATCHER Me: “Police Dept, can I help you?” Caller: “Yes, but are you a Police Officer or are you Just a Dispatcher?”… I am the faceless voice on the other end of the phone when you are having one of the worst days of your life. I am Just a Dispatcher. I am the one who does not fall apart when you tell me that there is an intruder with a gun in your house trying to find you. I am Just a Dispatcher. I am the one who does not fall apart when you tell me that there is something terribly wrong with your baby and who wants to jump through the phone so I don’t feel so helpless and you don’t feel so alone. I am Just a Dispatcher. I am the one who radios for the help you need at your house and the one who waits with you on the phone for, what feels like hours, until they get there. I am Just a Dispatcher. I am the one who, patiently and lovingly, talks to the lonely old lady who isn’t really having an emergency but feels a little scared. I don’t mind doing this because it means the world to her. I am Just a Dispatcher. I am the one with the bladder of a camel because after drinking 5 cups of stale coffee just to stay awake, I don’t have the time or extra coverage to man the radio so I can take a break. I am Just a Dispatcher. I can multi-task better than 5 Octo-Mom’s put together. I am Just a Dispatcher. I answer emergency calls and dispatch help to the scene. But, I am also a secretary, a teacher, a preacher, a babysitter, a psychologist and a friend. I am Just a Dispatcher. I am the one who does not remember what an actual weekend is. My family and friends tell me all about it, but I forget what it feels like. I am Just a Dispatcher. I am the one who celebrates holidays on a different day because it’s better than missing them. I am Just a Dispatcher. I am, often, the first one blamed when something goes wrong and the last one thanked when something goes right. I am Just a Dispatcher. Oh, and by the way, I am the one who that Police Officer will come to for an answer to the question you just asked. I am Just a Dispatcher. To you new dispatchers you have so much to soak up from the more seasoned dispatchers. I hope you find the path to discover your niche to do this job for many rewarding years. Many will tell you its a thank-less job as we are the forgotten that are hid in a room no one can see. Yep we are just dispatchers, and we are mighty proud to be just dispatchers.
Posted on: Sun, 17 Nov 2013 02:06:32 +0000