You may not realize it, but the person who picks up the other end of the line when you dial 911 is the first line of defense.
- Osceola County Sheriff's Office is hiring 911 dispatchers
- Call center is not fully staffed, 10 open positions
It can be a tough and demanding job. Migdalia Valentin, who is celebrating her 20th year at the Osceola County Sheriff's Office, comes to work with one goal in mind.
"Through years of experience…help people," Valentin said.
"And I would say if anyone ever wants to be in public safety but maybe being a deputy or a fireman is not really their thing,” said Modesty Adams, the communications manager for the Sheriff's Office. “This is the perfect career for them."
The communications center is not fully staffed at the moment, meaning several dispatchers are working overtime or double shifts. There are about 10 openings at the dispatch center. Sheriff Russ Gibson said this is one of the most rewarding jobs that this agency has to offer.
"Your heart to serve matters to the person who is calling in on the phone,” Gibson said. “And you will make a difference to those people you interact with and come in contact with. So making a difference in people's lives, there is no bigger reward than serving the community that you live in."
Valentin said this is a high-stress job that is not meant for everyone but she personally could not see herself doing anything else.
"My goal is to-- for the public to have a better understanding of what we do and for them to also understand that we really care and we really do want to help them," she said.
If you're interested in applying for a position, there will be recruiters at the "Annual Community Appreciation Day." The event will be held on March 10 from 10 a.m-2pm at 2601 E. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway in Kissimmee.
For more information, call the recruiting department at 407-348-2222 or click here.