Within the city of Biloxi, Mississippi, 911 dispatch operators work directly for the city of Biloxi as a key component of the cities emergency services departments. These various departments include services such as the fire, police and EMT departments.
There are certain requirements that must be met in order to get hired as a 911 dispatch operator in Biloxi. These steps and requirements include:
 | Meet Education and Job Qualifications |
 | Apply for a Position in Biloxi |
 | On-the-Job Training and Skill Development |
 | Seek Additional Certification |
The city of Biloxi, Mississippi keeps an eye out for hard working individuals who are looking to become members of the 911 emergency dispatch team. There are a few different reasons that operators may be required within the city. These reasons include:
- Violent crime in Biloxi has increased since the year 2011, and is currently higher than that of the U.S average
- Property crime rates in Biloxi are nearly twice the U.S average
Step 1. Meet Education and Job Qualifications
The city of Biloxi, Mississippi has a few minimum requirements that are in place to become a 911 dispatch operator.
- You must hold a high school diploma or equivalent
- You must hold a valid Mississippi drivers license
- A clean criminal history is required – parking tickets and traffic violations must be listed
- Fast, and accurate typing is a must
- Computer skills are crucial and you must have a basic education on using computer systems
Step 2. Apply for a Position in Biloxi
If you wish to apply for the position of a 911 dispatch operator, a lengthy application process must be completed first. You can view all eligible positions online on the City of Biloxi’s Website.
In addition you can contact the Human Resources department, weekdays from 8 am to 5pm at 228-435-6259. Or you may visit them in person on the third floor of the City Hall at 140 Lameuse St. Biloxi.
Throughout the application process, certain background checks will be required to be performed.
Step 3. On-the-Job Training and Skill Development
After being hired for a 911 dispatch operator job in Biloxi a training program that includes hands on training will be required. This program typically provides paid on-the-job training that spans 3 to 6 months. The number of training hours may vary, but the average is around 800 hours.
During the hands on training portion of the training program, you will be performing in front of experienced professionals. They will evaluate your ability in the following areas:
- Typing speed, and accuracy at recording valuable information.
- Ability to converse with the caller in a professional and understanding way
- Ability to work in a high stress environment quickly
- How well you learn the codes required within the department
- Ability to dispatch emergency services to the specified area
- Ability to keep emergency services updated with the situation
As you work through your hands on training you will learn to develop new skills and enhance current skills that will help you succeed on the job:
- Multi- tasking (typing, talking, and reading at the same time)
- Actively listening to others (absorbing information quickly, digesting and interpreting it)
- Typing Speed (35 wpm is the average for 911 dispatch operators)
- Ability to stay calm under stressful situations
- Enhancement in your interpersonal skills
Step 4: Seek Additional Certification
Seeking any additional certification is sometimes required to stay active in your career as a 911 dispatch operator in Biloxi.
- Participation in programs such as the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch can provide you with additional skills necessary to succeed in your job.
Because information changes on a daily basis, it’s often beneficial to stay up to date with any changes to Biloxi’s rules of conduct, employee regulations and city codes.