Dispatcher’s Two Decades of Experience Brings Calmness To Emergencies

Image of Katie Hubbell

When she was younger, sirens would go off, and Katie Hubbell would wonder what was happening. That curiosity is still there, but today the sound of sirens often means Hubbell is sending help.

She’s a dispatcher at KCPD with 20 years of experience. When someone needs officers, it’s Hubbell who sends them, providing the officers with critical information. She also carries the responsibility of ensuring their safety.

“If you work somewhere long enough, you get to know their voices,” Hubbell explained. “You can tell when they’re in a situation that they need help. You make lifelong friends and bonds.”

Helping the most people means answering the most calls. KCPD’s Communications Unit receives about one million calls a year. Each is unique.

The calls can be tough because Kansas Citians will call in crisis or need dire help. Thankfully, KCPD’s Wellness Unit supports Hubbell and her coworkers. The Wellness Unit is a team dedicated solely to helping all employees through difficult situations and critical incidents.

“For three or four days, we had several shootings involving young kids,” Hubbell said. “The Wellness Unit was calling us, visiting us, checking on us. They do really well with that kind of thing.”

Dispatching is challenging and gratifying. It’s meaningful, and each day, dispatchers bring help to Kansas City residents and businesses. Twenty years into her career, Hubbell understands what’s needed.

“Not everyone can do this job. You have to have thick skin. You can’t let getting cursed out bother you. If the mundane stuff bothers you, you can’t do this job.”

KCPD’s dispatchers begin as call takers. Want to serve your community? Apply for a call taker position.