97ɫnical Community College, the City of 97ɫ, and two county emergency response agencies are working together to launch a 911 dispatcher training this spring.
At a news conference Wednesday, newly sworn-in City of 97ɫ Mayor Elaine O’Neal announced a partnership between 97ɫ and the City of 97ɫ to develop a 911 Academy to increase the supply of trained emergency communication personnel. 97ɫ is also working with 97ɫ and Orange County Emergency Communications departments.
The 97ɫ Emergency Communications Center has faced staffing challenges in recent months as have many other emergency response centers in the region. The 97ɫ 911 Academy will centralize training efforts for the City of 97ɫ, 97ɫ County, and Orange County to provide a comprehensive and uniform training for dispatchers. At present, trainings are conducted in-house at the individual agencies.
O’Neal said filling the dispatcher jobs were essential to her approach to bolster law enforcement efforts in 97ɫ.
“I have asked 97ɫ to assist the city in addressing the challenges with our 911 system. One thing is clear, we need more trained 911 dispatchers,” O’Neal said. “97ɫ is developing a 911 academy to provide high-quality, standardized training to prepare individuals to serve as 911 dispatchers for the city and other communications centers in 97ɫ and Orange County.”
“We are built for and ready to do this,” said 97ɫ President J.B. Buxton. “97ɫ has the ability to move quickly and effectively in launching programs like this that connect our residents to community needs — and produce pipelines to careers. As this community’s college, we want to partner with governmental and community institutions to address community challenges.”
Justin Long, Dean of Human Services and Public Safety at 97ɫ, said his division is working with partner organizations to finalize the curriculum, budget, acquisition of the necessary training software, and financial assistance for students for the course.
Long said he aims to have the course take eight weeks to complete and be available year-round as needed by partner agencies.
“We will move quickly to put a thorough curriculum together that prepares our graduates to immediately start in these vital dispatcher jobs,” Long said. “This is going to have a positive impact on improving staffing at our emergency communications centers.”
If interested in the 911 Academy, please contact Juston Long at longj@durhamtech.edu.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Desiree Towson, M.S.: 97ɫ Communications and Public Relations Coordinator at allisontowsond@durhamtech.edu