It is the responsibility of the Call-Taker/Dispatcher to take routine and emergency calls from the public, members of the Belleville Police Service and other agencies. The Call-Taker/Dispatcher will dispatch members of the Belleville Police Service and the Deep River Police Service, as required.
Applicants for the Belleville Police Service position of Call-Taker/Dispatchers must meet or surpass the following minimum requirements and standards:
Recruitment steps for Call-Taker/Dispatcher:
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Almost two years ago, Lydia Dick joined Belleville Police Service as a communicator, bringing with her a background in social services and crisis support.
After graduating from Seneca College with a diploma in Social Service Work, she began her career at the Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre, where she gained first-hand experience with supporting individuals living with addiction and mental health challenges. From there, she worked as a child care therapist at a treatment centre for high-risk youth.
“I appreciated the direct experience I received when working within crisis, and emergency situations,” she said. “I found that I worked even better under high pressure, so knew a job in emergency services would be great for me.”
Her decision to pursue this role was also shaped by her father’s example.
“I always had the idea of becoming a first responder after watching my Dad (volunteer firefighter and victim services volunteer) and how much of a difference he made with every call. I knew I was a good fit for this job because of my previous experience, and always wanted to help the community out as much as I could.”
At BPS, Lydia works as part of the dispatch team, handling both 911 and non-emergency calls.
“As call takers/dispatchers, we take every phone call to our non-emergency number as well as 911 calls directed to the police. In those calls, we have to retrieve all information needed, assess the situation, prioritize the call based on the information we have and submit the call into the system, while answering other calls coming through at the same time,” she explained. “At this time, the dispatchers are reading the call, dispatching the appropriate officers, and gaining information on the people involved to ensure the officers are prepared the best they can be when they arrive on scene, while also dispatching and monitoring other active calls.”
Despite the fast-paced nature of the work, she finds the role deeply rewarding.
“I feel successful in my role when I know I’ve done everything in my power to support someone through a chaotic or terrifying moment.”
For anyone considering a career as a communicator, her advice is simple:
“Take the leap! It’s an incredible job with great people, and you’ll never feel like you’re repeating the same day every day because you never know what to expect when you pick up the phone!”
