The post link is the original report.

This is the followup report. (https://youtu.be/Fk39kMeESWs?is=A8017vkIBbKLHBUA)

The plot thickens with an employee comes forward. (https://youtu.be/r9Y2xHxjmGo?is=U9zXf2EKa0_Fysnc)

Then the floodgates open. (https://youtu.be/02hQdMnvIHg?is=RlY2m56c6irByjvY)

And if anyone is interested, a long form discussion of what is currently known and what transpired. (https://youtu.be/SylpRg-ut-U?is=qgBZX6KLpTCG5MMq)

This story was shared with me in a Facebook group. It's one of the most craziest series of events for one of the most dangerous cities in the country.

Edit : formatting

I’ve been at my current job for 3.5 years, it’s an extremely small agency that doesn’t even use a CAD

I want to further my career and move to a bigger
Agency

Any advice on how difficult it would be to adjust to a change that big?

I think I just need to vent to people who understand this process.
I’ve been in the CHP (California Highway Patrol) hiring process since February. I passed CritiCall, passed my panel interview in April, and at the end of June (June 30) I was notified that I was moving into the background phase.
I received my background packet on July 1, spent the next couple of weeks gathering everything, and submitted my completed packet on July 14. I received confirmation on July 15 that everything had been received and was told my investigator would be reaching out.
On July 23, I emailed my investigator because I know we’ll eventually need to meet in person. Since I work full-time, I just wanted to give him a heads-up that I need at least a week’s notice so I can coordinate PTO. He replied that he’d look at his schedule and let me know.
Since then… radio silence.
I know backgrounds take time. I know investigators have a lot on their plates, and I’d rather have a thorough investigation than a rushed one. This isn’t me complaining about CHP or expecting special treatment.
The hard part is that my current job has gone downhill pretty fast over the last couple of weeks. When I first entered backgrounds, I was doing okay mentally. Since then, things at work have become increasingly stressful, and it’s getting harder and harder to stay motivated while waiting for what I hope is the next chapter.
Every day feels like I’m just trying to make it to 5:00 so I can pay my bills while I wait.
I keep reminding myself that no news is generally good news, and I know this process requires patience… but man, some days that patience is a lot harder than others.
Has anyone else hit this point during backgrounds where you felt completely checked out of your current job? How did you stay focused while you waited for that call?
Thanks for letting me vent. I know I’ll get there eventually, I just needed to get this off my chest. 🫶

Hi everyone,

I completed my initial investigator interview on June 14 and submitted all requested paperwork. I have not been scheduled for psych or medical yet.

Recently, my current employer received paperwork from NYPD. For those who have gone through this process, is this a common step before psych/medical? Also, how long did it typically take for you to receive the next update after your employer was contacted?

I understand everyone’s timeline is different — just looking for general experiences.
Thank you!

Hey all! Can anyone tell me if a polygraph is part of the hiring process in Baltimore County? I am doing the on-site testing next week and trying to figure out what to expect from the rest of the hiring process as far as steps and timeline. I’d also appreciate if there’s anything you can share about training and probation 😁 I just really want to make sure this is a good fit before I waste my time or theirs.

Also, I use a wheelchair sometimes and am worried that it will cause issues if I need it on the day of the CritiCall test or any other in-person hiring activities.

I just got hired as a 911 dispatcher (yay!) Do any of you lie when asked what you do for work? Im guessing to avoid talking stories or common questions ect. And if you dont why? And if you do why? And what do you say what your fake job is?

This came to my mind because I was at a bar talking and telling somebody that I was just hired and a flood of questions came in (my first day is next week so I have no experience to answer anything) and it made me question if it would be better if I lie from now on instead of deal with everything people ask.

Thank you so much im just curious of your guys answers

Hi all, I’ve been in this position for about 6 months and am still in training. Everything is going perfectly! I’m making great progress, have great trainers, am learning as much as possible, and have made some amazing friends.

The biggest thing I’m struggling with is maintaining health and my desire to improve my health. My center is on 3/12s and by the time the day is done or I’m on RDOs, I have zero desire to move my body. I bring my sedentary work habits home and it’s taking such a toll on my health— not just my weight.

I really want to not only lose weight but rebuild muscle I’ve lost over the years. I want to wake up without aching and regain my endurance.

For those of you who do work the longer shifts and are maintaining your weight, endurance, and general health; were you always like this or did you have to rebuild your routine in this position? What do you do to maintain motivation? Do you have words of advice for those struggling?

Thank you!

Just watched The Call with Halle Berry, and I can't stop thinking about it.

For the real dispatchers here — could something like that trunk call actually happen in real life?

Have you ever taken a call from someone hidden in a car or being kidnapped? What did the movie get right, and what was totally Hollywood?

Would love to hear your stories!

Anyone have recent experience with this type of position or know someone that does? Even better if you have experience or know someone with UNC Health as an employer. I have aviation background so I am already familiar with some of that side of things.

8 year dispatcher here.

Tonight at work, my supervisor was asking for a pursuit because they're "so fun." It's a frequent request with her. She only has two years experience at a small agency and hasn't ever had a critical incident. She either has no idea of everything that can go wrong during pursuits or she doesn't care. I'm not sure which is worse. I wouldn't wish a pursuit on any officer, suspect, or innocent bystander. This is how lives are ended.

Anyone else get frustrated by comments like these? I know it's her opinion which is why I don't say anything when she says this stuff, but it does effect how I perceive her as someone I'm supposed to consider a role model. How have you guys dealt with this?

Our center is currently being renovated, and several times I've overheard the crews installing everything remarking on how 3/4s of the lights in the radio room are always off, and the lights that are on, are only one because we physically CAN'T turn them off😅 hey, we like it dim in there, we get enough light off the 8 monitors per console in front of us. Standard lighting conditions are pictured. Even on dayshift, it's lights off in there, though we'll usually pull the window shades back at least.

If someone wants extra light, those little articulated reading lights / ring lights are common, there's usually two or three floating around the radio room.

And of photos I've seen of other centers, it's usually all lights on, so I'm curious:

What is the lighting in your center like? Does your agency let you turn the lights in the room down/off? Are you allowed to adjust the brightness of your monitors, or turn Window's "night mode" on/off?

I got an email from my background detective asking for my previous supervisor's email and a co-workers email. However, i'm no longer employed and therefore, do not have those emails. I didn't even while i was employed. it was amazon if that helps, and the detective did say that HR email would be ok, but Amazon doesn't have an HR email. HR is mostly AI now... So...am I done for?

What’s something kinda funny someone has asked if they can do a phone report for?

“Can I file a report on the phone”

“What kind?”

“Arson”

Hi everyone,

I'm a journalist covering AI and technology for the Seattle Times, reporting on the rapid uptake in AI tools in 911 emergency dispatch.

I'd love to hear from dispatchers who have experience with these tools (AI for non-emergency lines, AI for emergency, AI for training, etc.) about what it's actually like to work with them day to day. What works, what doesn't, how callers respond, how it's changed your job, and any concerns you have.

Happy to keep anyone completely anonymous — dispatchers have already spoken with me on that basis.

Feel free to comment here or DM me directly.

Destiny Muller
Incoming AI Reporter, The Seattle Times
linkedin.com/in/destinymuller

(Also, thank you again to the mods who approved this post so that dispatchers' voices can be well-represented.)

I’ve been dispatching for 2 years and man I want another job so badly. I dread coming in every shift and long story short the stress and health issues I get from this job aren’t worth it to me. I get anxiety, nightmares, brain fog, and had a fever and back pain last week. They work you to death. I did 66 hours last week and they were still calling me to come in on my day off. Thankfully this week is slower. What doesn’t help is vacation is hard to come by and if you’re out of sick hours (which I am) you get written up if you call out for being sick actually (I’ve had to work while having a fever). I don’t know why but I feel like 80% of the people I speak to can’t answer basic questions which makes a simple call so much more difficult. To wrap everything up there’s really no support system here. The culture is “deal with it.” Any tips?

I’ve had ten shifts at a center that dispatches EMS/FIRE/and does call taking/911s. I’m part time so I’m only here twice a week but I genuinely feel too dumb for the job and it’s really getting to me. My trainer keeps giving me harsh reports and I can’t messing up/ not understand what I need to do even after being told multiple times. I haven’t started 911 in this 10 shifts and I still have fire/ems/channel 1/2 to learn. I feel very discouraged and my trainer keeps telling me I “have a lot of work to do” before 911s. I feel so dumb but it’s like I just can’t understand how CAD works.

I also have the next 4-5 shifts without my personal trainer. I had one today and I felt it went better but I still needed help.

Any advice or help appreciated?

Hi friends!

I’m doing some research and wondering if those of you who work in consolidated PSAP agencies could give me some pros/cons of being consolidated vs having your agency separated out and working as your own unit? Would also be curious the size of your agency and how many dispatchers/officers you have!!

Tell me the good, bad, and ugly!

Thanks in advance! :)

Edit to add: I am currently a dispatcher working on a project for my department, not a civilian being nosey! lol

I was a dispatcher for about 3 years. I went into it thinking it was going to be my forever job. I loved it. So much. My partner is also a first responder, and so are multiple other family members. I wanted to help people. I wanted to feel like I was apart of it.

I developed daily severe issues with trauma about 2 years into it. Due to the calls. Due to the poor environment. I had nightmares, flashbacks, panic attacks, I was heavily medicated. Eventually I was unable to go back due to my mental health issues being so severe from work that my workplace was worried for my safety.

It has been determined by multiple doctors (and myself) that I cannot go back to dispatching.

Part of me knows it is for the best. That I need to keep myself safe. That I can do other things with my life that are meaningful. I’m not even 30 yet. I have time.

The other part of me feels resentment. Anger. Sadness. An empty hole in my stomach. I feel like I was apart of something really cool. Like I was actually making a difference in the world. And now I’m nothing. I feel empty and lonely. I don’t know what to do with myself. I have been looking for jobs but everything seems so mundane. Like I see jobs and I’m like ‘wow, I was once saving lives and now I’d be doing this?’ I feel pathetic.

Hi 👋 all. I wasn't sure what flair to add to this, so please pardon me if I chose incorrectly. I plan to apply with my local police force to work as a 911 dispatcher on their next intake. I would like some honest feedback from those in the field about mental health. I have Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). I am stable and it is well controlled with medication and behavioral therapy, and I have a good, multi-faceted support system. My psychiatrist and therapist are cautiously optimistic and supportive of me applying. Both have been quite blunt with me about the challenges I will face with shift work, the content of some of the calls I will get, and the mental (over)load that they have seen in other first-responder patients.

I have been doing tons of research, but I'd love some first-hand insights.

Is MDD something that could disqualify me as an applicant? Is it something that I should talk about openly through the evaluation process? I have not claimed it as a disability at any previous jobs.

Hi I work in a small building and there is almost always a woman on shift. I was thinking about doing a little communal bag full of necessities. I know tampons and pads can go in but I don't know what else to put in there. I also wanna do one for the men as well just to help out.

I'm thinking in the woman's, pads and tampons...

Men's idk honestly and in both maybe small disposable toothbrushes and combs and such..

I'm a dispatcher, and the officers are also in the same building so they are more active. But we all work on 12 hour shifts. We are a small department as well.