Emergency Services Series - Dispatch

The field of emergency services has a big responsibility. They put themselves on the line every day in order to keep the public safe. When you call 9-1-1 for police, fire, or ems, you get to see them face-to-face. The ones you don’t see are the dispatchers on the other end. They are first in line when an emergency occurs and their role is vital to the safety of the public. Jabber Log recently sat down with Whitney Wilson, a 9-1-1 operator with Allegan County Central Dispatch, to see what she does and why she does it. This article continues the Emergency Services Series that began a month ago to show another side that people don’t get to see. Everyone has a story to tell and according to 911dispatch.com, “There is no accurate source of figures on the number of full-time public safety dispatchers. One industry association claims there are 250,000 "public safety 911 professionals." Out of those 250,000 this is just one story.