Find Out More About Communications Dispatch

Self-Screening Questionnaire

The following information applies to all candidates for the Police/Fire Dispatcher position. It is intended to help you decide if the job of Police/Fire Dispatcher, for the Allen Police Department, is right for you.

• Police/Fire Dispatchers are scheduled to work shift schedules that include weekends and holidays. Are you willing to work a rotating shift schedule? Are you willing to work weekends and holidays?

• Due to heavy workloads or vacations, are you willing to accept last minute changes to your work schedule that might require you to work hours other than your normally assigned shift?

• Are you willing to undergo a training period, complete with written assignments and tests in preparation for your new career?

• Often, the tasks of a Police/Fire Dispatcher are done simultaneously, requiring quick responses. Are you willing to learn and perform many tasks such as answering questions and processing calls for citizens, as well as receiving and transmitting messages over a radio frequency for law enforcement, ambulance and fire?

• As a Police/Fire Dispatcher you will deal with crisis calls. Would you be able to set aside the emotion of the crisis and then deal calmly with an irate citizen complaining about something insignificant?