Penny Whitten has been a telecommunications officer working in the Operational Communications Centre with the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador for over eight years. In her position, she receives calls for police service from the public for emergency and non emergency situations. She dispatches police officers to the calls received and ensures their safety by monitoring their status. With her vast experience, she also trains in and coaches newly hired telecommunications operators.
Penny says that the most interesting part of the job is never knowing what the day will bring. Each call for service and interaction with the public is unique and never boring!
For Penny, the best thing about working in the Operational Communications Centre at RCMP NL Headquarters is her teammates and the police officers who she interacts with. She enjoys knowing that the work she does can make a difference on someone's worst day.
So, what does it take to be a telecommunications operator? Penny says empathy, compassion, and patience are key, along with quick thinking and great multitasking abilities.