PST Work Environment

The NPD Public Safety Telecommunicator Environment

A professional PST is a highly responsible, multi-functional public servant who must handle many tough requirements, often in crises. The nature of the NPD PST’s job includes these key elements:

  • Serve with a team of three to four other telecommunicators.
  • Work on an assigned shift of 8 or 12 hours.
  • Occasional requirement for overtime work.
  • Operate telephone, radio, and computer equipment, usually concurrently.
  • Answer 9-1-1 emergency calls and public inquiries, and dispatch police and fire units.
  • Usually routine call taking and dispatching, but periodically high-stress during emergencies.

A career as a PST offers some personal rewards, some of which are intangible, such as:

  • Satisfaction that you provide a vital service to the public.
  • Awareness that citizens rely on you as the first “First Responder” to their calls for help.
  • Pride in knowing that on a daily basis you help promote the protection and preservation of life, property, and community security.
  • Knowledge that you serve in a profession that is growing in national recognition.
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