ALTUS – Lack of 911 operators prompted the city council to approve a $3,000 incentive for prospective communications specialists.
The decision came at the March 24 council meeting when the council also set a list of qualifications for the 911 positions.
“We’ve moved EMS operators to police 911 and we have a shortage, but that’s not new to us. This is something nationwide,” Altus City Manager Gary Jones said.
Altus has a “long list” of applicants but they’re going through the process of background checks which can take a lengthy amount of time, the city manager said. The city needs “three or four” more 911 operators to complete the employee roster.
“We’ve had trouble hiring (911 operators) for quite a while,” Jones said. “It’s too stressful for some people. The positions have been open for a while and we’ll keep them open until we get them filled.”
The new 911 operators must successfully complete required training and be certified to use teletypewriter within one year of employment and must be recertified every two years. In addition, the employee must have knowledge of Altus streets and geographic features of the community within three months. The new 911 operators must pass tests in radio broadcasting procedures and rules, department policies and procedures and other law enforcement procedures within four months.
The city will pay half of the $3,000 incentive when hired and the remaining balance after one year of service and receiving certifications and licensing as required. If the employee’s job is terminated less than three years after the hire date, the employee must repay the full amount of the incentive, less 1.67% for each full month of employment completed.
Several Oklahoma cities have 911 operator openings including Oklahoma City, McAlester, Ardmore, Norman, Edmond, Ada and Tulsa. Fort Sill also has openings for dispatch services.
Panicked callers, life-and-death decisions and low salaries compared to other fire responders often lead to 911 dispatchers quitting their jobs, according to www.intime.com, an online publication that caters to first responders. Those that quit during dispatcher training cite not being able to handle the “rapid pace of the job and the responsibility of having someone’s lives in their hands.”
According to the online publication, the hours are long, and there is mandatory overtime. Working during emergencies and on holidays is often required as dispatchers are needed 24 hours a day, 365 days out of the year. In small towns, dispatchers must often take calls from people that they know.