Standing in the kitchen at work the other day, I listened to one of our long-term employees talking to one of the kids. He had done something at home and a note had been written into his notebook so that his behavior was known to his educational team. This occurred in the school that is part of an integrated psychiatric treatment center. The note didn’t say what had occurred so my co-worker asked the child what had happened. He didn’t want to say. So, she asked him to write it in his notebook, in detail. He walked away sullen and unenthusiastic. This scene reminded me of one of the most important pieces of advice I had been given as a police telecommunications operator: If you don’t want to see it in a headline, don’t do it.

So often the actions of public safety employees end up on the news. It seems very few of these news stories are flattering. We make headlines in the best circumstances when someone feels we have made a mistake and in the worst circumstance when one of us does something immoral, neglectful or down-right illegal. In other words, when we get to grace the television, the internet and the papers, it is when we have screwed up and something bad has happened. No matter the circumstances it sullies all of us. Just like with police officers. When there is a bad apple, it taints the whole bushel. It’s funny (sort of) when you think about everyone within an occupation being lumped together. I mean when was the last time you read that a trash collector had been arrested for DUI. Probably never because the news doesn’t mention the occupation of a trash collector. It doesn’t incite the ah-ha factor that police officer or dispatcher does. It’s as if having the title makes it that much worse that the person screwed up.

Anyway, it’s best if we don’t deliberately do things that are wrong, but if we do make mistakes be ready for the headline to not be pretty. It’s probably best if we just write down what we did in our notebook and be authentically remorseful with a dedication to not make that same mistake again.

Due to lack of motion, limited food options and internal/external stress, as the years go by, dispatchers seem to get more and more unhealthy. Often drinking alcohol to excess and unhealthy personal relationships are thrown into the mix. When you walk around the radio room many of the seats are occupied by older, over-weight, drab faced women. That may sound harsh but it is a reality. The fresh faced, enthusiastic, health conscious new employees often get worn down by the work and fall into the all to common habits around them. But, it doesn’t need to be this way.

Exercise is super important especially for those who work sitting down and have a stressful work environment. Think of all the times that adrenaline coursed through your body and it had no physical outlet. You might not be able to get up from your seat and go hit the weights and treadmill for 45 minutes while on duty like many officers/fire fighters can, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any options for getting your blood flowing and your muscles loosened. Stand up, do some neck circles, push your shoulders up to your ears and drop them down. Do a squat or two. I remember when my best friend and I would do yoga poses while in 9-1-1. Yes, Ma’am, your operator is currently in down-ward dog. Why do you ask? It might have looked strange but we felt great.

Diet is another hugely important aspect of maintaining health and feeling great from your first day to your very last. Prepare healthy meals to bring with you, including snacks. It is easier to prepare and portion good choices at home so that when you are running out the door at 2am, you just have to grab and go.

Last but not least, drink tons. I definitely don’t mean alcohol. You should keep that to a minimum. It really doesn’t do anything to make you feel better and it certainly doesn’t take away any problems. What I mean is drink lots of water. Staying hydrated will make you feel amazing. And since dispatchers can hold their bladders for eternity, it shouldn’t be a problem to get your 8 oz glasses down the gullet.

Whatever you do, try to stay healthy. Your mental, physical and emotional health depend on it. You will also be more alert, positive and focused and that is good for everyone.

It’s easy to say, “I’m part of a group.” You hear it all the time. People are part of a sewing group, or a running group or a group of moms who get together to hang out in the park. There are lots and lots of groups and these groups are made up of people. I’ve belonged to many groups myself. But there is not a group that touched my life more than being a part of the police telecommunications operator group.

Technically, it is more accurate to call this group a family. Because that is what we are. We fight mercilessly with each other but are fiercely protective of our own when it comes to outsiders. We shared laughter and tears and many dull, boring nights. We ate amazing food, including one dispatcher’s rum balls that literally had me spitting fire (my young son too, but that is another story all together.) The day that Roxie died, we huddled together and we mourned. When an officer was hurt or killed, we circled the wagons. We watched each other pair up, get married, have kids (and just as often get divorced and possibly start the cycle over again). We watched those kids grow up, some of which ended up joining the group as well. It is an awesome group to be part of.

Even though it has been several years since I left the ranks, my very best friends are still in the trenches. I follow their escapades and they follow mine. We can get together and the stories flow as if no time has passed at all. We all know the stories and we still laugh just as loud. My co-workers live in my heart and that is a group I will always be proud to be a part of.

That’s right. Being a dispatcher is downright exciting. Now don’t get me wrong, 9-1-1 can be exciting too. With all those calls coming in and never knowing what the next situation will be, you sit there in anticipation. When you’re new, or least when I was new, I would sit there running scenarios through my head trying to come up with every contingency. I truly was terrified of making a mistake. What if I say the wrong thing? What if I don’t ask the right questions? What if I miss something important? What if I prioritize the call wrong? What if I forget to say anything at all? What if…? The list of concerns running through my head in the beginning was astronomical. Thank goodness when the calls did come in, I just followed my training, did my professional best and everything worked out all right. And the 9-1-1 seat can add some excitement when you get to work a call that is a bit different. You might get a call from a citizen (preferably one with some training like an off-duty officer) who is chasing down a burglary suspect or something like that. But, I have to say for the most part 9-1-1 was not exciting.

On the other hand, sitting in the radio room with a screen full of officers in front of you-now that could add some excitement to your life. I remember my first car chase; I practically came out of my chair when my officer said those three special words, “I’m in pursuit.” Yes!! I wanted to jump with glee but instead I steadied my voice (almost to the point of sounding bored) and got him the help he needed while keeping track of all the information he was barking out at me. I could hear the siren in the background and I was AMPED UP! The only thing that would have made that more fun was to actually be part of the pursuit, driving my own vehicle Code 3 and racing around the city. Of course, I didn’t realize at the time how much I was going to love emergency driving thirteen years later when I got to get behind the wheel of a fire truck, then an ambulance. But, that is another story.

Working dispatch is an exciting adventure. You get to solve puzzles (predominately those that involve getting officers attached to all the calls that you have holding especially when they want to keep making themselves 10-6 (busy) right when you send them a paper call), work exciting situations and interact with officers as they do their jobs. It’s almost like you are right there in the car with them (except without the stinky drunk who pooped his pants sitting behind you asking what color underwear you are wearing). It’s a cool job and very exciting. Did I mention that it’s exciting? Ok, enough.

Probably tricked you there, huh? I kind of tricked myself. I figured D would be dispatch. After all that is the most logical choice for the letter. But, I didn’t want to let myself off that easy. That’s when I realized that the most appropriate D word is dedication. Over the seventeen years that I have been affiliated with emergency communications, I have seen many things. The one thing that stands out most is that the job is a calling. Many seek out employment as a dispatcher/9-1-1 operator. Many even make it through training. This was especially true in the 1990s when a job with the local, county, state or federal government was definitely the way to go. It was secure with great benefits. People came in droves. Only a select few stayed.

Being a public safety telecommunications operator takes a special kind of person. Someone who can be completely in the moment without allowing the situation to overwhelm him or her. Someone who can handle chaos without getting wrapped up in it. I truly believe the phrase, “Not my monkeys. Not my circus,” had to have come from a dispatch center somewhere. There is so much going on on the other end of the phone or our headsets but we are removed from it. Those who stay with the job are truly dedicated to their community. Often this looks like a dedication to your co-workers and/or officers, fire fighters, medics but at the root it is a love of being a public servant that keeps these people planted firmly in their seats. Even if they move on or retire, being a dispatcher never leaves your blood. It’s the dedication you have shown to doing your job well that sticks with you. It’s a value. Those that have the value do well; those that don’t-well…they don’t last.

In closing, here’s a shout out to all of my friends who continue to warm the radio/9-1-1 room chairs. You are all awesome and THANK YOU for your dedication.