Frequently Asked Questions

No, KITTCOM is an independent unit of local government, so civil service regulations do not apply to our organization. KITTCOM does not have to maintain a "list" of candidates for a specific period.

Once a hiring process is started, to be fair to all participants, we do not allow any candidates to tour the center. (Candidates who get past the interview phase in the hiring process are scheduled to observe in the center plugged in with a dispatcher for two hours.)

Very rigorous. It is intended to identify candidates who have the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to do the job. KITTCOM uses tests that are also used by other dispatch centers around the country. Statistically, candidates who score high have a far greater chance of success during the initial training period than those with average or low scores.

Once a candidate applies for an emergency services dispatcher job, they will be sent a test link from Test Genius to complete new hire testing. The test can take up to 3 hours and needs to be completed in one sitting. 

Employees are sometimes called back to work on short notice if there is an unexpected illness or a spike in emergency activity levels. Those who were most recently hired (and therefore are lowest in seniority) cover vacation and sick leave for more senior employees, so schedule flexibility is critical. New employees must also demonstrate consistent attendance in order to successfully complete training and the one year probationary period.

All emergency services dispatch personnel at KITTCOM are members of General Teamsters Local 760.

Thorough, intense and strict. You will be disqualified from consideration for employment if you have used LSD, heroin, cocaine, crack, methamphetamine, ecstasy or several other illegal drugs, as this list is not all inclusive. You are also unlikely to be hired if you have been convicted of a crime; have stolen money or goods from an employer (more than de minimis quantities of office supplies or copies) have a poor driving record or a poor credit history. Generally, individuals who have demonstrated irresponsibility and/or poor judgment in their life choices are not hired.

We know! As the saying goes, many are called, but few are chosen. Because our staff members are a key part of the public safety team, their integrity must be beyond reproach.

From the date of the first test, it takes approximately 8 weeks to hire a new employee. Variables include the time it takes for the background investigation, availability of appointments for psychologists and medical professionals, as well as the amount of notice a candidate has to give if he or she is leaving another job.

KITTCOM runs an in-house training academy for new emergency services dispatchers. Our in-house academy is 16 weeks in the classroom with multiple opportunities to go to the dispatch floor and learn, followed by a 2-week evaluation phase working live on the dispatch floor. While in training to be a telecommunicator you will learn how to prioritize and multi-task in a fast-paced environment. Our training program is designed to give you all the tools and resources necessary to succeed at KITTCOM.

No. The mobile device you text from requires a mobile phone number with a wireless carrier which allows the device to send and receive text messages.

No. At this time, text to 911 is only available in English.

No. Photos and video cannot be received at this time.

No. Messages sent to 911 cannot include other recipients. If you attempt to text 911 on a group text, it may not be received.

If text to 911 service is unavailable, even temporarily, you should receive a message indicating it is not available with instructions to contact 911 by other means. If you do not receive any replies from 911, try to contact 911 another way (place a voice call, use TTY/relay, try a different device or landline).

If you accidentally send a text to 911, please send a reply stating that it was a mistake and that there is no emergency.

Text to 911 location information is obtained from the cellular carrier’s location data for the purpose of routing the message to the nearest 911 center and it may not be exact enough for first responders to find you. For all 911 calls or text messages, “callers” should be prepared to provide their exact location information — including apartment, lot, building, space, unit, or suite number, or mile marker.

No. Voice calls are still the preferred method for contacting 911.

While KITTCOM processes text messages in the same manner as voice calls to 911, texts are not as efficient as voice calls. Call takers cannot hear background noise to better ascertain the situation, and there are inherent delays when sending or receiving text replies. 

Remember, call if you can, text if you can’t.

The National Emergency Number Association (NENA) helped produce these great videos:

• General Information about Text to 911 for the Deaf, Deafblind, Hard of Hearing, and Speech Disabled
• How to Text 911 for the Deaf, Deafblind, Hard of Hearing, and Speech Disabled
• Important Facts About Text to 911 for the Deaf, Deafblind, Hard of Hearing, and Speech Disabled