“20 years ago I thought I wanted to be a police officer, little did I know at the time that God had a different plan for me. I was still under 21 so I began looking for a job to get my foot in the door somewhere and work my way up. I was able to get a job working as a parking enforcement officer. Yes, I was one of those guys that everyone hates, and yes I made a lot of people very unhappy, but that was a way to work towards achieving my goal. After about a year I began sitting in dispatch when I was off and started learning about the job. Finally the day came and I was hired as a dispatcher. My first day of training pretty much went, “this is how you tone out the fire department. If you have any more questions just call the patrol sergeant on duty.” Over the next year and a half I kept my eye on my goal of becoming an officer. As I came closer to 21 I started sitting down and really thinking about what the job entailed and was it something that I would truly love doing. I was very happy with my job in dispatch and became very good at it. I decided to stay on a few more years, after all, more experience never hurt anyone. I won't say there was any certain phone call or any one incident that kept me in dispatch, but after a few years it just felt right. I was good at what I did and I was happy and loved my job. After 18 years, I still love what I do. Yes there are bad days and bad calls, and yes times when I really just want to be anywhere other than here. However, I find myself eager to come back, to help that next person, to help my coworkers, to be there for my work family (as dysfunctional as they may be).
I will always remember the worst calls. Remember the desperation in the caller’s voice, begging me to make it all better. Remember the caller that is just tired of living. Remember the caller that took his family’s life and then took his own.
If you were to ask me why I love my job, I would have to say I don't know. This typically is a thankless job; people usually don’t call just to say thank you for what you do. Knowing that I made a difference in someone’s life, or knowing I was there to help someone through one of the worst times in their life, makes me feel fulfilled. It gives me purpose.”
- Timothy Floyd, Senior Dispatcher/NCIC Instructor/ATAC, Oconee County Sheriff's Office, SC