Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share The Calm Voice in the Dark: Raymore Emergency Dispatch
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
The Calm Voice in the Dark: Raymore Emergency Dispatch
Send a text
A dark room filled with screens, a steady voice in your ear and a dozen decisions unfolding at once—that’s the world Courtney Harrison steps into every shift. We sit down with Raymore’s Dispatch Communications Supervisor to explore how 911 call-takers turn frantic moments into clear action, why location is the first question for a reason and what the calm in the chaos really looks like when seconds decide outcomes.
Courtney pulls back the curtain on the Raymore Emergency Communications Center, where two dispatchers staff each of four rotating teams around the clock, supporting Raymore Police, South Metro and West Peculiar Fire Protection Districts, Peculiar Police and Raymore Animal Control. She shares how dispatchers multitask under pressure—typing, listening, triaging resources and issuing emergency medical dispatch (EMD) instructions—all while keeping callers grounded and responders informed. We tackle myths about precise phone pings and TV drama and lay out practical tips: give your location first, answer the callback after an accidental dial and trust the follow-up questions designed to get help moving fast.
We also talk about the mental side of the work. Audio trauma lands in the brain like visual trauma, so team support and structured debriefs matter. Courtney explains the training pipeline—EMD, MULES, FEMA, CPR, crisis intervention and continuing education through APCO and Virtual Academy—that equips dispatchers for mass incidents, medical protocols and high-stress calls. And yes, there are rare, remarkable moments: a teammate who has helped deliver three babies over the phone and a chance neighborhood encounter that brought one story full circle.
Whether you’re curious about how 911 really operates or you’re considering a career behind the console, this conversation offers a clear, human view of the first first responders—the people who answer, guide and stay steady when everything else is not. If this resonated, follow the show, share with a friend, and leave a quick review so others can find it too.
Learn more about the City of Raymore's Communications Department at www.raymore.com/communications
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Threads @CityofRaymoreMO
View all episodes
By City of Raymore, Missouri GovernmentSend a text
A dark room filled with screens, a steady voice in your ear and a dozen decisions unfolding at once—that’s the world Courtney Harrison steps into every shift. We sit down with Raymore’s Dispatch Communications Supervisor to explore how 911 call-takers turn frantic moments into clear action, why location is the first question for a reason and what the calm in the chaos really looks like when seconds decide outcomes.
Courtney pulls back the curtain on the Raymore Emergency Communications Center, where two dispatchers staff each of four rotating teams around the clock, supporting Raymore Police, South Metro and West Peculiar Fire Protection Districts, Peculiar Police and Raymore Animal Control. She shares how dispatchers multitask under pressure—typing, listening, triaging resources and issuing emergency medical dispatch (EMD) instructions—all while keeping callers grounded and responders informed. We tackle myths about precise phone pings and TV drama and lay out practical tips: give your location first, answer the callback after an accidental dial and trust the follow-up questions designed to get help moving fast.
We also talk about the mental side of the work. Audio trauma lands in the brain like visual trauma, so team support and structured debriefs matter. Courtney explains the training pipeline—EMD, MULES, FEMA, CPR, crisis intervention and continuing education through APCO and Virtual Academy—that equips dispatchers for mass incidents, medical protocols and high-stress calls. And yes, there are rare, remarkable moments: a teammate who has helped deliver three babies over the phone and a chance neighborhood encounter that brought one story full circle.
Whether you’re curious about how 911 really operates or you’re considering a career behind the console, this conversation offers a clear, human view of the first first responders—the people who answer, guide and stay steady when everything else is not. If this resonated, follow the show, share with a friend, and leave a quick review so others can find it too.
Learn more about the City of Raymore's Communications Department at www.raymore.com/communications
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Threads @CityofRaymoreMO