As a 911 dispatcher in Essex, you will work as a member of the police department fielding 911 calls from people needing emergency firefighter, medical, and police assistance. Becoming a 911 dispatcher in Essex is not easy; you will first need to be chosen for the position and then complete an extensive training regimen. You must also be able to gather valuable information from distrout callers and may find yourself in emotionally difficult situations.
Once you have researched how to become a 911 operator in Essex you will be ready to take the first steps towards a successful career:
 | Prepare for Employment as a Dispatcher in Essex |
 | Apply with the Essex Police Department |
 | Keeping your Training up to Date |
Step 1. Prepare for Employment as a Dispatcher in Essex
To begin your path towards available 911 dispatcher jobs in Essex you can start by acquiring a useful education and job skills. There are a number of local, state, and national certifications available to you as an Essex resident that will provide you with competitive 911 operator training:
- CPR and other certification courses available through the American Heart Association
- Emergency Medical Dispatcher Certification
- Vermont Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS)
- Various other online certification programs from a variety of institutions
In addition to 911 dispatcher training you could also consider studying for a degree in a field that would be relevant to emergency dispatching. With at least three colleges in a 25-mile radius of Essex and additional opportunities online, you will be able to find any number of helpful degrees to improve both your initial qualifications in your application and future promotional opportunities, including in the areas of:
- Law Enforcement
- Public Safety
- Criminal Justice
- Emergency Management
- Homeland Security
- Psychology
- Communications
Step 2. Apply with the Essex Police Department
Working with the Essex Police Department, you will be answering all types of 911 emergency calls and dispatching fire, police, and ambulance units. To apply for this position you can start by checking the city’s webpage which lists vacant employment opportunities. If there are no vacancy postings for dispatcher positions you can still apply by printing off a police department application and returning it to the Essex Town Manager at 81 Main Street. Once there is an opening you will be notified if your application is being considered.
As a local resident of the Essex area you will be aware of the current considerations regarding the merger of the Town of Essex and the Village of Essex Junction. The results of this discussion may have implications on where you can submit your application for 911 dispatcher jobs. The actions you can take to prepare for this job will not be affected by any mergers.
Step 3. Keeping your Training up to Date
Once you have been hired it will be your responsibility to stay up to date in the emergency dispatch field. This is important because the field does tend to change rapidly with new advances in technology, and you can never learn too much when it comes to saving lives.
Of course the Essex Police Department will train you on the technology you will use in the dispatch center, but keeping up with these advancements on your own will improve your overall understanding and can make you a leader instead of a follower- not to mention a better life-saving dispatcher. You can find continuing education opportunities with:
- Vermont Emergency Management
- National Incident Management System (NIMS) through Vermont Homeland Security
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- National Emergency Number Association