Behind the Badge
The dispatchers, correctional officers, and support staff making everything else possible.
The invisible work that lets the visible work happen.
Common Questions
Quick answers drawn from the voices on this page.
What do 9-1-1 dispatchers actually do?
A supervising dispatcher puts it best: "Our dispatchers are fantastic. We could not do what we do without them. There are a lot of people who are dispatchers who are not cut out to be there in the moment, but they still want to help, and you can. You do actually help." Watch: Behind the Scenes: The Lifeline of Emergency Service →
What kind of person thrives as a dispatcher?
The composure to stay calm, listen, and think in three tracks at once. One veteran officer's advice to would-be dispatchers: "You might surprise yourself in how well that you do in this role. Start a career that you could really be proud of." Watch: Behind the Scenes: The Lifeline of Emergency Service →.
What does corrections work look like from the inside?
Broader than most people expect. One officer: "Going into corrections is definitely something I would recommend. I am the court officer. I'm actually specialized in the medical department. I work in booking. Do a little bit of everything… There's a duty to at least try to better these inmates." Watch: Corrections: Making a Difference in Our Community →.
How do the invisible roles connect to what people see?
Every visible patrol call depends on a chain: the dispatcher who triaged it, the corrections officer who processed the inmate, the records clerk who made the file findable, the civilian analyst who mapped the pattern. The badge you see on the street is the top of a stack.
What surprises people most about the day-to-day?
How much of the work is talking, listening, and helping — not enforcement. Officers describe most shifts as conversation-heavy. Watch: The Smallest Acts of Kindness: How Law Enforcement Steps Up →.
What do officers wish the public knew about them?
That the badge does not change who they are. They are still parents, neighbors, coaches, and volunteers — people who chose service and stayed in the community they serve. Watch: Step Up & Serve — Why I Wear the Badge (Officers & Deputies) →.
Full transcripts
Every voice on this page, in their own words.
Transcript: Step Up & Serve — Why I Chose Corrections
It's worth serving the community it is worth being the light. It's worth being that positive role model to show them that we're the good guys my aspiration in life really is to help out in any way that I can. That's why I chose this line of work and actually being a part of it is honestly pretty amazing. I am the court officer. I'm actually specialized in the medical department. I work in booking. Making sure the inmates are always safe we take care of all their needs our corrections unit, it's a great career we looking for great people to be part of that. It's definitely the place you wanna start. 'cause it'll teach you how to talk to people, how to deal with people you have a lot of time to talk to these inmates. Get an inside of how these people struggle on a day to day basis. I like to treat everyone with respect, their human beings at the end of the day, we. Have different programs just within a jail, classes that kind of just benefit them to get back out there and turn things around. Obviously, we're correctional officers for a reason. There's a duty to at least try to better these inmates. Stepping up is taking initiative that is the best way that I can. Help. I speak Spanish. I can help people who do not speak English when they need help the most, touches me. <Laugh>. There was a letter stating that, Hey, I was very appreciative of what you've done for me. I was struggling and you treat me like a human the jail here at least, is very much family-like. It's not like you coming in, you working a hard job on your own you have people there that's gonna help you succeed you kind of create a family and I think it's a great thing, especially us ladies we definitely can make a difference. A lot of females think, oh, I can't do this. I'm one of the smallest people. <laugh> in the jail. I have no problem. People take me serious when I talk. It's not a detention center, it's a correctional facility. It's the understanding of where we fit in in a bigger picture. It's a rewarding career, just like the military. It's being able to put that uniform on every day. Feeling proud of. Yourself. I know in the past few years, things have just been a little ugly. It's a lot of backlash on officers now, but. I'm here as one, as a representative to let you know that I am not discouraged, I am encouraged. Hey, somebody gotta be the first step and changing that backlash and make it more positive. Going into corrections is definitely something I would recommend. I'm proud to be there, proud to be working, proud to be serving. You. Never know this might be the one thing you wanna do for the rest of your life this might help you go to the next step of what you wanna do in your life. I hope you join the team. I hope you join the team and step up and serve. I hope you join our team and step up and serve you never know until you try. Right. Thank you.
Transcript: Step Up & Serve — Why I Answer the Call (Dispatchers)
There are a lot of people who are dispatchers who are not cut out to, you know, be there in the moment, but they still want to help and you can, you do actually help. Dispatch is definitely an integral part of this job our dispatchers are fantastic we could not do what we do without them. Dispatchers answer both emergency and non-emergency calls from the. Public they take the information, provide the information to whoever needs to, to respond to that call they try to get a, a clear understanding of what's going on before we get there and that can really save our lives with new technology and new acclamations GPS, they are absolutely on their game. I actually did get a lifesaving award where I was able to instruct the caller to start CPR. Being able to think of that moment, it makes it worth it knowing that you truly did help somebody and they're here because of you we do provide answers, resources, even if it's not something we provide, we can direct them to where they can get that help the dedication from the dispatchers. I appreciate everything that they do if it. Sounds like an interesting job to you apply, you might surprise yourself and how well that you do in this role start a career that you could really be proud of. I hope you join the team. I hope you join the team and step. Up and serve step up and serve. It's a wonderful profession to be a part of and to help your community.
Transcript: Law Enforcement: Treating Every Human with Respect
It's worth serving the community. It is worth being the light. It's worth being that positive role model to show them that we're the good guys. My aspiration in life really is to help out in any way that I can. That's why I chose this line of work and actually being a part of it is honestly pretty amazing. I am the court officer. I'm actually specialized in the medical department. I work in booking. Making sure the inmates are always safe. We take care of all their needs. Our corrections unit, it's a great career. We looking for great people to be part of that. You. Have a lot of time to talk to these inmates, get an inside of how these people struggle on a day to day basis. I like. To treat everyone with respect. They're human beings at the end of the day. We have different programs just within the jail classes that kind of just benefit them to get back out there and turn things around. It's not a detention center, it's a correctional facility. It's the understanding of where we fit in in a bigger. Picture. I know in the past few years, things have just been a little ugly. It's a lot of backlash on officers now, but. I'm here as one, as a representative to let you know that I am not discouraged. I am encouraged. You never know. This might be the one thing you wanna do for the rest of your life. This might help you go to the next step of what you wanna do in your life. I. Hope you join the team. I. Hope you join the. Team and step up and serve. I hope you join our team and step up and serve.
Transcript: Step Up & Serve: Dispatchers — The Lifeline of Law Enforcement
There are a lot of people who are dispatchers who are not cut out to, you know, be there in the moment, but they still want to help and you can, you do actually help. Dispatch is definitely an integral part of this job. We could not do what we do without them. Dispatchers answer both emergency and non-emergency calls from the public. They take the information, provide the information to whoever needs to, to respond to that call. They try to get a, a clear understanding of what's going on before we get there and that can really save our lives. With new technology and new acclamations GPS, they are absolutely on their game. I actually did get a lifesaving award where I was able to instruct the caller to start CPR. Being able to think of that moment, it makes it worth it knowing that you truly did help somebody and they're here because of you. We do provide answers, resources, even if it's not something we provide, we can direct them to where they can get that help. The dedication from the dispatchers. I appreciate everything that they do. If it sounds like an interesting job to you apply. Start a career that you could really be proud of. I hope. You join the team. I hope you join the team and step. Up. And serve. Step up and serve. It's a wonderful profession to be a part of and to help your community.
Transcript: Behind the Scenes: The Lifeline of Emergency Service
Our dispatchers are fantastic. We could not do what we do without them. There are a lot of people who are dispatchers who are not cut out to, you know, be there in the moment, but they still want to help, and you can. You do actually help. If it sounds like an interesting job to you, apply. You might surprise yourself in how well that you do in this role. Start a career that you could really be proud of. I hope you join the team and step up and serve. This is where you belong.
Transcript: Corrections: Making a Difference in Our Community
Going into corrections is definitely something I would recommend. I am the court officer. I'm actually specialized in the medical department. I work in booking. Do a little bit of everything. Obviously we're correctional officers for a reason. There's a duty to at least try to better these inmates. Stepping up is taking initiative. That is the best way that I can help. I hope you join the team. I hope you join the team. And step up and serve.
We could not do what we do without them.
Going into corrections is definitely something I would recommend.
It's worth being the light. It's worth being that positive role model.
Dispatch is definitely an integral part of this job. We could not do what we do without them.
I was able to instruct the caller to start CPR. They are here because of you.






