Dispatch Department Research Paper

Throughout history, women have traditionally been viewed as inferior to men. Women are seen as the “weaker” gender and given the “lighter” work. Society has reached the conclusion that there are specific job occupations for different genders. In law enforcement, women are underappreciated due to the perception that it is a field for men only. Dispatch department is underestimated because it is mostly made up of women. This paper will discuss the---------- Gender roles have shaped our perspective of how men and women are viewed. There are certain expectations applied to men and women. Law enforcement is considered a masculine field because there is more contact and more violence involved. Women there are undervalued because their male colleagues …show more content…
As a dispatcher, being able to multitask is essential to doing their job right; they have to listen to everything the caller is telling them while giving first responders information about the situation (Runzel). A key to always remember as a dispatcher is to expect the unexpected. One moment they can be answering an accidental 911 call and the next they can be receiving a phone call from someone whose life is on the line. Dispatchers have to know police officers codes to keep them safe and know the severity of the situation the officers are responding to. There are not just mental responsibilities, but physical responsibilities as well. They are expected to sit for long periods of time; eight to twelve hour shifts are typical in the life of a dispatcher, some agencies may even have them working twenty-four hour shifts (“Police”). Being able to turn and reach for files as fast as they can is essential because when someone's life is at stake, every second …show more content…
Speaking clearly is one of the most important skills to have in this field. When someone is in distress, they do not process things as well, so speaking with as little words as possible while still getting their point across is prime to helping save a person's life. Dispatchers need quick decision-making skills; high intensity calls require rapid responses because someone's life is in danger. Not only do they have to make immediate decisions, but they also need to choose which instructions to give the caller while help is one the way. Dispatchers have to figure out the priority of the situation so they know who to send to help. They also need great listening abilities. Every single detail they are given is vital to helping put a person's life out of danger. Empathizing is key to calming the person at the other end of the line. Empathy is important in this field of work because you will more clearly understand the unspoken parts of the conversation between yourself and the other person at the other end of the line and to distinctly understand their needs. It will benefit the dispatcher because it will be much easier to deal with the negativity by understanding the other person’s fears and struggles. They have to make sure the caller does not feel alone in whatever situation they may be