Training

[MrJim911]

I'd like to know how easy or accessible training is at everyones PSAP. I'm not talking about the manadatory NCIC and EMD training. What about classes like Suicide prevention, Hostage negotiation, Domestic violence and other dispatch classes. Can you just ask your Admin to attend a class? Will they send you? Does your agency host classes?

[Noodle]

Our training starts off OJT. We watch, read the manual, test, and have a list of required profincies that we have to pass before we can work the radios and phones. The dept has been trying to get everyone through Public Safety Dispatcher classes that are put together by the state. These are normaly free for us because many of or officers are teachers and build credit for the department. EMD, suicide prevention, Haz Mat, and any other additional courses are all encouraged. We normally go to private agencies for these and get the info from the classes from Ohio LEADS (Law Enforcment Automated Data Systems). To get enrolled into these classes we have to put a request in through our admin department. If there are no scheduling difficulties, and the department has enough money to pay for the training, then we go. We have not held any of our own classes other than inservice as of yet, but do have qualified personel who are trying to get some together.

[Lupey]

Next to impossible. Most of all the $$ that is for training goes to the officers for their training. My department is just in the transition of understanding that this a career and not some part time job.

[BOLO SIGNAL 44]

I was able to attend a hostage/crisis negotiations class last year that was hosted by the FBI. It was a great class and has helped save a few people here at home. We don't have a lot of money this time around for extra classes. I have to attend a state class this year on Customer Service. I just wished it was something different. It seems like the state classes just keep getting terrible. Last year I had dealing with the special needs caller. Talk about a waist of a good day. We did not learn one thing, and I had to go on my day off. I did get paid OT for it, but I wished it could have been something better.
Next year if I am still in this line of work, I will have two state classes. The first will be a NCIC and state system refresher class as well as another stupid class.

[MrJim911]

Sometimes you can learn something in those Customer service classes, but I would agree, generally speaking, they are a waste of time and that money would be better spent on something else. I've attended 2 Hostage negotiation and suicide prevention classes. And a few others I can't remeber, LOL. But I promise I learned something!! I don't include my NCIC recerts as training since we use the system every day and recerts are mandatory. Luckily the Illinois system is online now so that means no more trips to another PSAP to take a recert test. We can do it on line now!! Hooray!!

[KYEMT325]

In Kentucky, we are required by law to get an 8 hour inservice every year through the Ky Dept of Criminal Justice Training Center. These classes vary in topics for the Telecommunications Section of the Department, but I have taken Spanish, Hostage Negotiations, Teambuilding for the Supervisor, Effective Tele Supervisor Methods, and I'm looking forward to a special class that I'm taking in April which is a class on HazMat Response procedures for the Telecommunicator.

So, we don't have to worry about the $$ for training all going to the officers, because they're required to send us too. The state pays for 2 training classes every year for all certified telecommunicators and police officers, so that's at least 16 hours of training that you get paid to go to. This year, I'm scheduled for an 8 hour and a 16 hour class, so that's 24 hours I get paid for.

And NOW, Kentucky has a bill pending before our legislature mandating a mandatory 4 week telecommunications academy hosted by the DOCJT (dept of criminal justice training) that all new dispatchers will be required to complete within 6 months of hire date in order to be a telecommunicator in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Their reasoning for this is that it will increase our pay across the board, because departments will want only to hire academy certified telecommunicators so that they don't have to pay for training (kinda like laterals are for officers). We'll see if it passes and if it works.

[MrJim911]

I like the idea of an academy for dispatchers. Education is a beautiful thing. As you said it will increase pay and set an example for those states that don't require that type of in depth training. (Not to mention make better dispatchers) My state does not offer an academy setting, however we do have a college program where you can get a certificate of completion or get an associates degree in publis safety communications. Our only required training is for LEADS/NCIC and EMD.

[KYEMT325]

Well, now I know what they've been talking about at DOCJT here. They have said to us on multiple occasions that Kentucky, although behind in cutting edge legislation in most areas...is in the top 3 in the nation for training of police officers, telecommunicators, and their fire training systems for firefighters.

They have also told us several times that if we wanted to go to another state and work in our field that our academy training would be extremely valuable to us as experience and education in the field. Maybe they were right.

I think California is the only state to have a mandatory academy for dispatchers...not really sure of that. Can any of our sunny cali buds on here give us some insight into that?

[BOLO SIGNAL 44]

Just a few things about the Telecommunications Academy in KY. The DOCJT could have a good setup if they would get their heads out of their bottoms. I graduated from the last academy class in 2001. Just a couple of the classes were great and I will never forget the info that I learned in them. However I do have some complaints about the whole academy thing. Number one would be the fact that we were treated like grade school children not the profesional dispatchers that we are. The second problem was one of the female instructors that filled in on the LINK NCIC class one day. I forgot more about both systems than she knew. There was a few times that she told the class wrong information. I decided that it was best to let it go and get out of class on time. Another problem was the living conditions. We were mandated to stay in Maddox Hall at EKU. Talk about a real dump. This place was worse than the building I was in during Air Force Basic Training at Lackland AFB. While in Maddox Hall, we were woke up every week and made to stand in the hall and take a PBT test. This was very late at night and sometimes around 0300 hours. We were also made to be in our rooms at 2100 hours and lights out at 2200 hours. There was no way of getting around staying at Maddox, unless you were in a wheel chair, the place was not handicap ready. I could go on all night about the building but I will spare you all.
Another thing to think about is the Director of KY's DOCJT, Dr Bizzak. He was named in a book called "The Bluegrass Conspiracy". The book is about dirty cops and goverment officials that got involved in smuggling guns and drugs with the mob into KY from South America. Then Detective Bizzak with Lexington PD was named in the book for covering up two murders, as well as working with dirty cops and organized crime. Just a little thought for you all.
I do not feel that a manditory academy will get KY dispatchers anymore pay than what they already make. Just for an example. I do not make that much at my center. You are hired in at $8.50 per hour. There is not much of a chance of getting a raise for at least two years when they give everyone a raise across the board, and that is just a few cents. Now there are other centers near us that only get around $6 to $7 per hour. That is because of the budget that their counties work with. Just across the river in Ohio, the Highway Patrol Dispatchers start at $13.60 per hour, and they only take complaints that involve traffic on State and US highways. That is what we are dealing with as far as pay in my area. If the state can see a way to get centers more money, then I can see getting better pay, not by requiring centers to spend more money to send dispatcher to an academy.

[ladymoonlite]

We are a LONG way from having any sort of "Academy" as a valuable tool for dispatchers across the board - this is primarily because you can't teach this job in a classroom setting. Yes, there are a lot of things you can get out of the way (NCIC/LEADS and EMD are some of them) but there are too many differences from agency to agency to make it worthwhile. Wisconsin offered a (rather costly) course in some of it's Tech Colleges. When I worked there we hired two dispatchers out of the program and they were, frankly, the worst two hires we had ever made! Nonetheless, I think Jim's question was more directed toward on-going training as opposed to primary training...?

And in answer to that original question, I have to say NOT AS MUCH AS I'D LIKE! It's not a matter of money in the budget as much as staffing in the room, though. We've even hosted APCO classes and then been unable to have anyone attend from our own center due to staffing! I do manage to send anyone who is interested to something (Domestic Violence or Hostage/Suicide Negotiation or Trainer Training) about once a year. Also, we've gotten three of our Trainers into the APCO virtual training. If I get an update on that I'll fill you in!

[Cyclone911]

I guess I'm a little bit luckier...In the state of Iowa it is mandatory for Telecomunicators to attend a week long Basic Telecommunicators class within a year of hire at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. They also offer an Advanced Telecommunicator class. In my division taking classes/attending school is encouraged. We also have in service training days in which we discuss/train on numerous topics that affect our position from dealing with domestic fights and how to get the most of the call to First Aid/CPR Certification to IPC (Interpersonal Communications) to Training on our Mobile Command Center (Dispatch on wheels). Our agency also offers classes every once in a while to other agencies. The wall that we run into once in a while is budget and budget cuts but does not affect our training too much; but budget is a wall that everyone has, I suppose.:burnt:

[MrJim911]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Mandatory education is a great idea. I also attended that week long class by APCO, but unfortunately it was about 9 months after I got the job and the class was so "basic" that I didn't learn anything new. Your description of in-service training days sounds like our quarterly staff meetings. We get together to discuss "things" that are either good or bad. But it's not training per se.

[Cyclone911]

Oh, we also have meetings where we discuss any problems, updates, and things of the sort that we may have. We usually have those quarterly, then we also have a meeting where the Sheriff, Deputies, Civil Services, Support Services, etc attends (Pretty much the whole office). This system works out great in communicating.
:D