911 Dispatchers.  I don't think any of us are asking to be paid as much as the responders who are on the scene, putting their lives in immediate danger.  We ARE first responders, though.  Even if we aren't in those immediately life-threatening situations, the stress and trauma we experience is proven to have a negative impact on our health.  Our eyes don't actually SEE what is happening on the scene, but our minds paint the pictures for us... and our minds usually paint it uglier than it really is.  Adrenaline flows freely and prepares our bodies to fight or flee.  But we don't fight OR flee.  What do we do?  We stay sitting in that seat so we can answer the next call.  Because of this, the release of glucose into the bloodstream accumulates rather than being burned off, which can cause immediate symptoms like restlessness, irritability, dizziness, lightheadedness, vision changes, sweating, and a pounding heart.  Persisting in this state for long periods of time (12 hours a day) can lead to serious health concerns over time, including high blood pressure, chronic headaches, digestive problems, weight gain, atherosclerosis, memory and concentration problems, insomnia, anxiety, and depression.  See how many people you can find who are willing to sign up for all of that for less than $16 an hour.

It's common for new dispatchers to realize early on that they can't handle the job, so they quit.  We don't blame them for that.  But the fact is, when someone leaves, it takes MONTHS for them to be replaced.  Applicants have to jump through numerous hoops just to get in the door (basically the same hoops police applicants do), and it usually takes well over a month to be officially hired after the initial interview.  This is non-negotiable, though, as dispatchers have access to confidential information and must be deemed honest and trustworthy before being placed in that seat.  Once they're finally in the door, it takes MONTHS to train someone for the entry-level position of answering 911 calls.  It takes YEARS for a dispatcher to become confident and seasoned.  But with the level of pay we receive, it's extremely difficult to convince them to stick around long enough to BECOME confident and seasoned. 

Especially in West Texas, there are entry-level jobs at every corner paying very near (if not more than) our starting pay.  I'm talking about jobs that definitely don't include the helpless feeling of trying to decipher an address over the phone when the caller is too hysterical to speak in anything but screams.  I'm talking about jobs that don't include trying to calm down a terrified mother just enough to comprehend that she needs to start doing CPR NOW to save her child, and that if she just LISTENS to us, we will tell her exactly how to do it.  I'm talking about jobs that don't include trying to convince a stranger that they have something to live for while they're trying to decide if I'm going to be the last person they ever talk to.  I'm not taking away from the difficulties of other jobs.  We all deserve a livable wage.  But... how are we supposed to keep our center staffed and our 911 calls answered in a timely manner if we can't get applicants through the door?  Qualified individuals are hardly seeking to work with us when our pay can't compete with the pay of a grocery stocker, a fast food cashier, a receptionist, a wrecker company dispatcher, an oilfield dispatcher, or EVEN 911 dispatchers in surrounding communities.  With over 12 years of experience in Odessa dispatch, I don't think I've ever seen our center fully staffed.  We've been close, but once we start to get shorthanded, there is a domino effect.  This is caused by the burnout that comes with all the extra work and pressure placed on the shoulders of the remaining dispatchers.  People WANT to do a job they love, but they can't stick around if their needs can't be met;  they'll eventually have to follow the money.  This petition is meant to convince the City of Odessa Budget Committee that the starting pay for 911 dispatchers needs to be raised dramatically.  I don't have a number, but I know $15.68 isn't it.  If you agree and want to see this change, please sign and share.  Thank you for your time!