911 Dispatcher - A Day in the Life

Published 2020-04-11
*2022 NOW HIRING 911 DISPATCHERS*
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Spend a day with MetCom Dispatcher Sara Shover as she answers 911 calls, provides information to crews over the radio, provides a behind the scenes tour and lives out a typical day at South Metro Fire Rescue's 911 Communications Center.

MetCom is a secondary public safety answering point (PSAP) handling fire and medical dispatching for approximately 1,600 square miles of Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas and Jefferson Counties. The crew of dispatchers provide service to South Metro, Bennett, Byers, Deer Trail, Sable Altura, Strasburg and West Douglas County Fire Districts.

There are 3 shifts of 7 personnel who work 24-hour shifts. For employment information please visit www.southmetro.org

All Comments (21)
  • "good morning family" that greeting alone has a huge positive psychological impact on employees than the usual "good morning"
  • @arob_bundy
    “Amanda is out sick, we called and checked on her, she has no needs.” I’m an emergency room nurse and when we call out all we get is attitude and gossip. I’m so glad you take such great care of your work family! Thank you for everything you do! First responders save lives!! We appreciate you!
  • I’m impressed with the alert of someone calling out sick and following it up with, “she has no needs.” And, “good morning family.” What a wonderful place to work from the looks and sounds of it. Such a tough and under appreciated job.
  • My mom had a seizure and passed out a few weeks ago. The dispatcher I was on the phone with was an angel. She kept me calm and sane during the scariest time of my life. This job is so under appreciated 💕
  • @TymetheInfamous
    Can we just keep hanging out with her on a day-to-day basis? She makes you feel like everything is going to be ok all of the time. We need that right now lol <3
  • @PureAloha78
    I was a police dispatcher for a year. It was the hardest job I ever have to do and it is true when they say it takes a special person to do the job. My hat goes off to all the dispatchers out there.
  • I dispatched for about 10 years and I sometimes miss it! It was high stress and long hours but I made life long friends and learned a lot about handling bad situations, with calm and clear thinking. This is an under represented profession. My respect to all those who have gotten used to jumping into an already warm chair at the beginning of your shift. :sanitizer:
  • I just looked up their average salary. Shockingly low. Why do essential jobs like this pay so poorly? Honest question
  • @DV-tc1yr
    HI, Im a former 9-1-1 dispatcher for over 10 years and i gotta say you did a great job on this video if anyone has any wishes of wanting to be a dispatcher this is the video to watch, and you are a great dispatcher, your lucky to work for an agency that has such nice technology too. Again thank you for what you do!
  • @mandrew31
    As a LEO I can't imagine life without dispatchers. They do some of the most stressful and thankless work imaginable. Much love, it takes a special sort of person to manage dispatch.
  • I am a former 9-1-1 Dispatcher who worked for a rural North Tennessee county from, 2013 to 2021. I hung up my headset because I turned 62 and decided I was too old to keep doing dispatch. I am very impressed with this video presentation! I especially love that your dispatch center actually has WINDOWS! The one I worked in didn't have a single window. I appreciate what you and all 9-1-1 dispatchers do!
  • She looks so tired 😩 yet is still very efficient in giving and receiving information. Kudos to her.
  • @earlt911
    I did this for 38 years and it was enough!! Hats off to those still in the comm centers!
  • @cherrywilson6267
    I was a truckdriver for 20 years and decided to take a chance and take the civil service exam for a public safety dispatcher and this was one of the videos that helped me decide to take the leap and happy to say, I am now an official 911 dispatcher.
  • I am in dispatch now for 6 month after 16 years on the street as a fire fighter and paramedic ! It’s completely different and it’s hard work !! Many of us on the street think it’s easy phone picking stuff... NOOO IT ISNT !!
  • @JasonT850
    I cannot fathom how they do their jobs at 911 but the few times I've had to call they have all been so positive and professional. Thank you to ALL 911 dispatchers for being there when we need you to be.
  • @nunosoares2329
    Thanks Sara and staff for what you do. You're awesome 😀
  • @kryptkeeper8395
    Very tough mentally an emotionally I can tell you have to be you guys are so very appreciated please keep doing what you're doing we all need you guys out here.