Your Little 911 Primer: What to Expect When You Apply for Your First 911 Job & How to Keep Your Eyes Open
Barry is an 18 year veteran of working at the console of a primary public safety 911 call center.  He has taught numerous telecommunicators throughout his career on virtually every aspect of working in the 911 business, from police, fire and EMS dispatch to operating new CAD systems.  He and others helped design a new stand-alone 911 center in Eugene, OR and contributed many hours to Union work representing dispatchers and call takers.   Barry's primary focus throughout his time as a 911 dispatcher and calltaker was to work on reducing employee attrition in this specialized field.  Through legislative, union and group efforts, Barry has learned several things about why people are attracted to this work and why they leave long before they retire.  His earliest article on this matter appeared in the APCO International magazine in the mid nineties. Barry now works for a County Sheriff performing civil duties that include gun permits and processing court documents.