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Sumner County Emergency Communications
Welcome to
Sumner County Emergency Communications
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STAFF
James A. Reed, 911 Director
(620) 326-3398

John M Tracy,   Asst. 911 Director
(620) 326-2884

Sandy Ray,   TAC Officer
(620) 326-2884

Watch Supervisors
Marcie Bristor, Day Shift
Robert Patterson, Swing Shift
Bobby Antonich, Night Shift
Other Info
For Responders
Learn CPR
Contact your local
fire department or
EMS agency.
JOB CONDITIONS
MORE INFORMATION
The job of 911 dispatching is highly rewarding.  You are on the
front line of emergencies such as crimes in progress, fires,
medical emergencies, and storms.  You will be charged with
obtaining the appropriate information about the incident,
processing the call quickly, and dispatching emergency
resources to the scene.

Your job involves helping people and saving lives.  However, it
is important that you realize the conditions that the job entails.  
As an emergency dispatcher, you will be subjected to the
conditions listed below.
  • All training is provided.  You will undergo an intensive
    training program lasting as long as six months before you
    are released for duty.
  • You will be expected to know and follow a multitude of
    policies and procedures.
  • You must operate four computer systems simultaneously
    and efficiently.
  • You will monitor a ten line telephone system to receive incoming calls for service.
  • You will operate a multi-channel radio/paging console and monitor ten channels at once for
    as many as 37 police, fire, EMS, and Emergency Management agencies.
  • You must receive and process calls ranging from the mundane to the critical emergency;
    from minor thefts to infants who are not breathing.
  • Must have the ability to multi-task; to talk on the telephone, listen to the radio, and operate
    computers systems all at once.
  • Your actions on the telephone, radio, and computer will be recorded and logged.
  • Must be team-oriented, working well with colleagues; spending an 8 hour shift with others
    in an isolated room.
  • You will be subjected to verbal abuse and profanity, and must have the ability to remain
    professional and not take it personally.
  • You must have patience.
  • You will be required to make instantaneous life and death decisions.
  • The job involves shift work, working holidays, and working weekends.  Your schedule may
    not necessarily coincide with your family schedule.
  • Overtime will be required.  During vacation and sick leave, the dispatch center must
    maintain minimum staffing; we are a 24 hour public safety department.
  • We are emergency services.  When businesses and organizations are shut down because
    of inclement weather, you will have to brave the elements and show up for work to help
    others in their time of need.
  • Stress is a certainty.  Dealing with emergencies and grief, combined with the responsibility
    of making life and death decisions, you must be able to practice good stress management
    techniques for your own health and well-being.