Police incidents can shift from routine to high-risk in a matter of seconds, and dispatchers are the lifeline connecting callers, officers, and critical information. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the essential skills needed to support law enforcement operations from the initial call for service through rapidly evolving critical incidents. Participants will explore core concepts such as priority call triage, officer safety considerations, high-risk traffic stops, in-progress crimes, and handling emotionally charged or unpredictable callers.
Through practical scenarios and guided discussion, attendees will learn how to gather and relay accurate, actionable information, maintain situational awareness across multiple radio channels, and anticipate operational needs before they are requested. The course also covers best practices for managing pursuits, perimeter coordination, armed subject calls, domestic violence situations, and critical events such as officer-down emergencies. Emphasis is placed on clear communication, calm decision-making, and consistent application of safety-focused dispatch strategies.
Whether participants are new to police dispatching or looking to refine their approach, this course provides the foundational tools and confidence needed to support safe, effective, and well-coordinated law enforcement response.
Course Objectives
- Explain the core components of police response, including call triage, priority determination, and dispatcher responsibilities during both routine and high-risk incidents.
- Demonstrate effective questioning and information-gathering techniques to obtain critical details from callers, witnesses, and victims while managing high-stress or emotionally charged situations.
- Apply officer safety principles, including monitoring unit status, recognizing developing threats, and communicating timely alerts during pursuits, in-progress crimes, and potentially violent encounters.
- Coordinate and manage multi-unit and multi-agency responses, such as perimeter setups, tactical deployments, high-risk stops, and critical incident requests.
- Execute dispatcher responsibilities during emergencies involving officers, including officer-down situations, duress calls, and priority radio traffic management to ensure rapid, organized response.
About the Essentials Series
The Essentials Series: Core Skills for Today’s Public Safety Telecommunicator is a growing collection of focused, scenario-driven courses designed to strengthen the foundational competencies every 9-1-1 professional needs. Each class delivers practical skills, real-world insight, and confidence-building tools that can be applied immediately on the job. Whether your center is onboarding new team members or investing in continuing development for experienced staff, the Essentials Series provides high-value, mission-critical training for every telecommunicator.
Current Courses in the Essentials Series
- Essential Customer Service Techniques
- Essential Crisis Call Skills: Navigating Suicidal and Mental Health Emergencies
- Essential T-CPR Skills: Guiding Lifesaving Action Before Help Arrives
- Essential Fire Dispatch Skills: From the First Alarm to Mayday
- Essential Police Dispatch Skills: From the First Call to Critical Incidents
