Being a Dispatcher

Responsibilities

You are responsible for the safety of all government employees. You should be taking the utmost care when assigning units to incidents (thinking of what resources are required and how many should be assigned). You should always inform your units to use caution if the situation calls for it and never send your units to a situation where there is likely to be a high amount of danger if they are by themselves.

While as a Dispatcher you have complete control over any asset ranked below Lieutenant, this does not mean that you are a supervisor nor have the same responsibilities as one. If a colleague asks you to do something unrelated to your job as a Dispatcher or is requesting help, inform them to speak with a supervisor and not to ask directly over the radio.

You are accountable for your actions, if you make a mistake it could potentially cost the life of a government employee. You need to remain calm in stressful situations and control any situation that unfolds in accordance with the handbook.

Role

Remember as a dispatcher it is only your job to oversee all government employees. It is not your job to directly manage units on the ground or at the scene of an incident, leave this to the Officer in Charge (OIC) of said incident.  For example, you do not need to instruct TFU on how to breach a building or explaining how to set up a proper perimeter around a crime scene.

REGARDING THE AUTHORITY OF DISPATCHERS

On-duty dispatchers have complete authority and control over any asset inside the PLPD. Officers ranked Lieutenant and above may overrule a dispatcher’s commands provided that the reasoning given is justifiable.

Contacts

Being a Dispatcher can be hard and stressful when you're new to the job, especially if you're alone. We have several dispatchers that go on duty regularly and gladly answer any questions or provide guidance for someone who's struggling or just want somewhere to start.

Please don't hesitate to contact the Head of Dispatch if you have any questions regarding applications, responsibilities or job roles.  This can be done via PLPD Online Help Desk.