re: Why are 911 dispatch people such jerks?

I’m a 911 person, and at the center I’m at being rude to a caller is a fire able offense. As far as telling someone to call down remember that you are likely hearing a highly edited version of the call because the press is going to condense it and make it sound more dramatic. Usually if we have to resort to selling someone to calm down it is because they are so amped up you cannot comprehend what they are saying; even then the phrase “calm down” is frowned upon. Finally in regards to what it takes to do our job: we require about 600 of on the job training no matter what training you’ve had before. Probably 75% of our trainees are unable to complete training. As someone who worked fire, EMS, and 911; I’ll say 911 is far more difficult. I guess it just boils down to the center, their training, and what they will tolerate.

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I was watching something where a woman called 911 because a guy was trying to break into her house.

He eventually got in and she went quiet because she didn’t want him to hear her, but the 911 person who already had enough info was still trying to ask her questions.

She was murdered.

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Are you dead yet?

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In general whenever I get someone on the phone that has the black woman accent I know it is going to be a terrible experience and there is a better chance than not that I will accomplish nothing.

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What timing. I had this experience this afternoon. Had to cancel a credit card I never possessed. She was not listening to what I was saying and every time I tried to respond she says “can I finish?” can I finish? I would give a normal pause and when I began to speak again she would say “can I finish?” That was her little game and if they seriously record all these calls for quality purposes then most of them would not be working there

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They are trying to flex their little bit of power.

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This. Few things are more enraging than some dipshit that figures out they have some tiny semblance of power.

Because people can’t listen to instructions.