Nevada POST working on Mandate for Dispatcher training

The process has been slow but it is getting there. A bill is winding it's way through the Nevada Legislature to make it mandatory for all law enforcement dispatchers to be trained and certified through POST. The first hurdle was getting POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) to accept that Dispatchers needed to have a minimal training. After the meetings were successful, personnel went to the NV State Congress to find a sponsor. As you see below, we have one.


2017
Certification of Law Enforcement Dispatchers
Status: Pending - Assembly Government Affairs Committee ...(tharr be more)
Date of Last Action:* 2/13/2017
Author: Carlton (D)
Topics: 9-1-1 Other/Miscellaneous
Summary: Provides for the certification of law enforcement dispatchers.
History: Click for History
02/13/2017 - INTRODUCED.
02/13/2017 - Prefiled pursuant to JSR 14.2.1(d).
02/13/2017 - To ASSEMBLY Committee on GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.



Why do we (Dispatchers) want this?

Think! Respectability comes with requirements of certification and training. We as a profession must start somewhere. Just having the two-year NCIC/NCJIS is not enough. For those who offer pre-arrival medical instruction (EMD), you are required to have CPR and EMD training, plus annual continuing education. Departments must provide that to you. How many of your agencies give you to the chance at other training once you've finished your basic orientation? POST certification is the first step for many NV Dispatchers.

I know Nevadans hate being compared to Californians but I remember when Dispatchers in CA started getting POST certification through POST. At first, it was just the basics: Basic Dispatcher, Civilian Training Officer, and Civilian Supervisor.  However that changes after the late 80's when the State held focus groups for Dispatchers to see what types of training programs we wanted and soon we had Fire Dispatcher, Tactical Dispatcher, and Advanced Dispatcher. Now there is a catalog of courses for Dispatchers.

Think about that: an entire catalog of courses specifically for Telecommunicators.

We could have that in Nevada.

Go to the below link. Click on share your opinion. Scroll down and look for bill 151.


http://asm.leg.state.nv.us/Assembly/


Stay safe out there!