The Secret Diaries of a 911 Dispatcher (@SecretDiary911) header
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The Secret Diaries of a 911 Dispatcher

@SecretDiary911

Tips & tricks for calling 911 & not being an asshole.

Joined October 2021
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Working as a 911 dispatcher is all fun & games, right? NO. Because you’re only as good as your caller. And the caller is hardly ever cooperative. So follow along for tips & tricks on how to help us, help you. As well as listening to the ridiculous shit we endure.
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It amazes me when I ask someone to provide the information phonetically & they agree & then completely fail to do so 🥲
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Once I asked someone to spell something phonetically & they stated they didn’t know the phonetic alphabet, I told them it didn’t have to be perfect & they stated saying things like “I for idiot because I am one, D for dumb ass, A for asshole” it was hard to contain my laughter
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I think I need an extended weekend. By extended I mean like 2-4 months long.
My family asked if I worked today & were shocked that I would have to go in on a holiday… I don’t think they realize that we NEVER close, regardless of the day lmao
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There’s no way I’m only half way through my shift… feels like I’ve been here for 3 years.
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Understand that if an officer knows you by name… that usually isn’t a good thing. I wouldn’t go on bragging about that. Lmaoo
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Remember, when you dial into 911 it’s because you’re needing help, so when the necessary questions are being asked, simply answer them. There’s no need to be belligerent or rude, it’s not going to make anything move along quicker.
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PSA, we are allowed to hang up on you.
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And for fuck’s sake, please, please, please, know your cardinal directions. North. West. South. East. When you tell us left, right, across, in front, etc., we don’t know what direction you’re referring to. We don’t have cameras that are watching you while you call.
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Many TV series/movies have given the public the misconceived idea that you need to start the call by stating what your emergency is. STOP. Do NOT do that. And no, it’s not because we don’t care what is going on. However, we need to know the LOCATION of where the incident occurred
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Location is CRUCIAL for many reasons. It helps us determine the jurisdiction, ensuring you are speaking to the correct agency. Otherwise you may end up getting transferred and you’ll just need to repeat yourself, again. We all know how frustrating that can be.
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More importantly, it helps us determine where the help needs to be sent. Although movies depict the perception that we can pinpoint your exact location, that isn’t the case. It’s possible to get an address that is in close proximity. Even then, we need you to provide the address.
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