RICHMOND, Va.
“This is a way if you do not want to be on the front lines to really be the first, first answer,” said Rebekah Taylor, Henrico Police Communications.
Currently, the Richmond Department of Emergency Communications is short of 22 dispatchers or 1/3 of the staff needed to answer your emergency call.
The city says it answers more than 85% of 911 calls within 10 seconds and more than 80% of non-emergency calls within 10 seconds. During times of high volume, calls must stay on the line longer until their call is answered.
“It is better to just stay on the line. Do not hang up. If you hang up, go back to the ball, and you will wait again. Just wait. Wait. I promise you, we will come to you,” said Kenya. Washington, Richmond Department of Emergency Communications.
Chesterfield reports 18 vacations or 25% of its broadcasting power. And in Hanover, they still have nine openings in an office of 36.
“You also have to think about the flexibility of work. There are a lot of jobs at the moment that offer work from home, flexing in hours, and here you can not flex too much because you have to be here to help the citizens. support, “Washington said.
Henrico Police Dispatcher Rebekah Taylor has been at the other end of the line for 11 years. She says even though work can be hard, it is very rewarding.
“There are always those calls where you have someone who is in need. “Someone who’s having a really bad day, that you’re just the quiet voice on the other end of the phone,” Taylor said.
If you are concerned about your 911 call, in Richmond you can file a complaint.
Even in Richmond, if the emergency is still going on, please call 804-646-5100 and ask to speak to the on-duty communications supervisor.
If the incident has passed, please call 804-646-5911. You can also contact Department Director Stephen Willoughby at 804-646-5142 or email stephen.willoughby@richmondgov.com. Please indicate the time and date of the call, and the telephone number from which the call was made, if possible.
Here is information to apply for a dispatcher position:
Richmond: Sign up for the opening of the Emergency Communications Officer, now until March 22, HERE.
Henrico: Click HERE for the application. | Learn more about the work, HERE.
Chesterfield: The county accepts applications until Sunday. Anyone can apply online HERE or via Chesterfield’s career website.
Hannover: Click HERE to apply.
Copyright 2022 WWBT. All rights reserved.
Send it to 12 here.
Do you want NBC12 Top Stories in your inbox every morning? Subscribe here.
Add Comment