A day in the life of a 911 dispatcher

Wrapping up National Public Safety Telecommunicators week News 11 was able to take a look inside the Yuma Police Department dispatch center.

Nearly 1,100 911 emergency calls come into the YPD dispatch center each week, with a little more than two dozen dispatchers working 10-hour shifts.

One of the people behind the phone calls is Jessica Raney. She said she has been in the field for close to 13 years and won Civilian Supervisor of the Year award.

She explained one of the scariest situations a dispatcher finds themselves in.

“When you’re not able to tell us where you are until we’re able to either coax it out of you or get it out of the person calling or help them find the address of where they are right now,” explained Raney, dispatch supervisor.

Raney added this is also a misconception about her job. She explained technology can only pinpoint the general area the call is coming from but not the exact area.

To balance the stress of her job she said she leans on her family and coworkers.

“It helps to have a good support system at home to be able to go home and know they’re there in case you need to talk,” said Raney.

There are about 24 dispatchers inside the YPD dispatch center and YPD is looking for more.