The Dallas Police Department is trying to make its call center more efficient by hiring additional responders to handle the incoming calls. The center faced serious criticism after mishandling a call from a woman in need last year.
According to The Dallas News, a call came in to 911 from 32 year-old Deanna Cook, who claimed her ex-husband was attacking her. Two Dallas police officers were sent to her home to access the situation. When they got to the house, they tried knocking on her door, but no one answered. After unsuccessfully trying to get into the home, the officers left.
However, two days later Cook was found dead in her home after being stabbed repeatedly by her ex-husband, who had a history of making threats. Many criticized the call center and the police department for not doing more to help Cook when she called and not investigating.
At the time, the department released a statement saying that it was seeking to “determine if the nature of the call was sufficiently communicated through each step of the process.”
Now, two years later, the police department says it has come a long way in handling the increasing demands of emergency calls. Since 2012, the call center has been able improve call time responses and handle the increasing demand of calls. Now, the center plans on hiring additional help. On the Dallas police website, the department said it’s “undergoing an ambitious renovation of the police, fire, and 911 communications center.”
Starting salary for anyone interested is $31,077 and can top out at $62,046 annually depending on length of service and promotion. In order to apply, applicants need to have one-year experience as a police or fire radio emergency dispatcher. All applicants need to be available nights, weekends, and holidays.
To handle all of the incoming calls which can be as high as a 1.5 million per year, applicants need to be able to pass an extensive background investigation, drug screening, vision test, and must have a high school degree with no felony background.
Anyone interested in applying for the position can do so by visiting the Dallas City Hall website.
Edited by Rory J. Thompson