‘Accepting that call literally and figurately’: Lincoln Police welcomes 11 new dispatchers

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – More than 100 people showed up to the graduation of the Lincoln Police Department’s newest dispatchers on Tuesday.

“They are accepting that call both literally and figurately,” said Assistant police chief Ryan Dale during his opening remarks at the ceremony.

Eleven new dispatchers are set to join LPD’s new emergency communications center, making it the largest recruitment class ever to graduate the program.

LECC’s Operations manager Matthew Harwell points out the recent changes LPD has implemented to bring in new people.

“I know department wide, they’ve really changed the focus on making sure people know about all the public safety opportunities through the Lincoln Police department,” he said, “Those different roles, how people can get connected and making it that much easier for people to get engaged.”

Through seven weeks of training, recruits learned nearly 30 different call types along with other protocols on CPR and Tourniquets, to Narcan and Epi pens.

Graduate Katie Abdul-Qudir says, “I wouldn’t be able to do this seven weeks ago, wouldn’t have known what to say or how to say it,” but now she says, “When that person calls on their worst day, I’ll be able to be that calm voice on the other end.”

Abdul-Quidir expressed her confidence in the training program, but says her favorite part of the program was the camaraderie with her classmates, an overarching theme of the ceremony.

“We all helped each other grow in every aspect,” she said.

As one of the few mothers in the group, Abdul-Quidir says it gave her a unique advantage that she was able to share.

“I made sure everyone’s prepared and I want to make sure we all walk away getting passing scores on every test together. No man left behind,” she said.

Each graduate was given a pin shaped as a puzzle piece that represents their commitment to the team.

Abdul-Quidir said that means, “you can’t do this job alone.”

Harwell described how this class stood out to him collectively.

“They’ve come together in a way that I don’t know, in my time in public safety, I’ve ever seen an academy class come together,” he said.

A union of people sharing the same intention, “They all have different reasons why they’re here, but it’s truly focused on that need to help, and that desire to help,” he said.

Harwell indicated that for those who answer this call, it’s not only a commitment to the city of Lincoln, but the entire county.

The next class of recruits is scheduled to start on Oct. 9, but LPD encourages those who would like a career in public safety to apply on their website at any time.