In the event of an emergency, the public safety dispatcher is often the first line of contact between the public and first responders. Dispatchers must be the calm voice amid chaos as they listen to the caller and best determine what emergency services they need, and relay that information to police, fire or emergency medical services. In Kentucky, the Department of Criminal Justice Training has a program designed to train the elite who have what it takes to be a public safety dispatcher. Public Safety Dispatch trainees will experience a four-week course, consisting of 164 hours of classroom and practical instruction.

The academy is designed for the entry-level dispatcher, and is designed for dispatchers working at agencies with or without a Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) terminal. The academy includes various modules of instruction relating to the duties and responsibilities of a dispatcher, calls for service, phone and radio procedures, information systems, and call processing. The students graduating from the Public Safety Dispatch Academy represent the successful completion of a highly structured and comprehensive curriculum. As a result, each dispatcher is prepared to meet the ever-increasing demands expected of today’s public safety professional. During the four weeks, trainees are required to live in the dorms at DOCJT.

PREREQUISITES OF BEING A PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHER:

Be hired by dispatch agency in Kentucky prior to attending the academy
Satisfy Telecommunicator Professional Standards (TPS) requirements
Satisfy Telecommunicator Professional Standards Checklist

TRAITS OF A DISPATCHER:

Good communication skills
Ability to multitask
Dedication to teamwork
High morals, character and integrity
Good judgement
Emotional self-control
Active listener
Problem-solving skills
Critical thinker
Patient and calm under pressure
Thick-skinned
Empathy
Dedicated
Levelheaded

HOW TO ATTEND:

To attend any of DOCJT’s academies, students MUST be employed by a law enforcement or public safety dispatch organization. Anyone interested in attending the academy must first be hired by a department, who will then enroll the student in the academy. Individuals cannot independently register to attend the academy without an employing agency.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Kentucky Law Enforcement Council-certified public safety dispatchers are required to complete eight hours of mandated training each year. The telecommunication instructors at DOCJT strive to offer the most up-to-date and relevant training for all of Kentucky’s dispatchers. Check the LETRS system for available classes.

Frequently Asked Questions