Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers
On the Job
Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers receive reports of emergencies and relay messages to the police or emergency medical personnel. They operate radio, telephone, or computer equipment. They maintain contact with callers until an emergency response team arrives.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Answer telephones to direct calls or provide information.
- Enter information into databases or software programs.
- Maintain call records.
- Search files, databases or reference materials to obtain needed information.
- Confer with coworkers to coordinate work activities.
- Relay information between personnel.
- Report maintenance or equipment problems to appropriate personnel.
- Maintain current knowledge related to work activities.
- Discuss goods or services information with customers or patrons.
- Monitor alarm systems.
Typical Working Conditions
- Having telephone conversations.
- Dealing with external customers.
- Sitting.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
- Dealing with unpleasant or angry people.
- Working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions.
- Frequent decision-making.
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.
