News release

From student to the frontline: How one dispatcher found her voice in policing

October 3, 2025 - RCMP Dispatch Centre, British Columbia
From: British Columbia RCMP

Content

When she first walked through the doors of the RCMP Dispatch Centre as a student applicant, headset wires and blinking call screens seemed like a foreign language. Today, they are the rhythm of her daily work. What started as curiosity has grown into a calling: the journey of Rosabelle, now a full-time police dispatcher, is proof of what happens when dedication meets opportunity.

Initially, Rosabelle wasn’t expecting to join law enforcement. As a college student, she was exploring all areas of criminal justice and criminology when her professor approached her with a recommendation that she consider a career with the BC RCMP as a 9-1-1 police dispatcher. The BC RCMP offers a unique job opportunity, exclusive to post-secondary students where they can work alongside police dispatchers over the summer and return to their courses in the fall.

Like many who consider a career in policing, Rosabelle had some questions: Could I handle the pressure? Do I have the right temperament? The answers started to come when she successfully passed her application and began her two-year ‘Student Police Call Taker Program,’ a training program designed to give students a real sense of the profession. There, she built the foundation—learning not only the technical skills, but also the human ones: through structured coursework along with scenario-based learning and understanding that behind every call is someone in need.

In her early days as a non-emergency call taker, Rosabelle felt like a jack of all trades. Her immersive training had prepared her for any potential situation that may come. In the early weeks, she was well-supported with an experienced dispatcher stationed along side her to assist if needed. Rosabelle says “I loved how different each day of work could be, and I knew I was never truly on my own. Someone was always nearby to help.”

Rosabelle quickly learned the art of call taking was to expect the unexpected. A call could shift from complaints about trash cans to crisis within seconds and that meant thinking fast, communicating clearly, and staying steady when voices on the line weren’t. Those lessons became the cornerstones of her confidence. As a first-year call taker, Rosabelle was assigned to answer all non-emergency calls. In her second year, she broadened her skills to answering 9-1-1 calls.

Now, in her role as a full-time police dispatcher, she’s the calm voice on the other end of countless emergencies. From guiding officers to the scene to reassuring frightened callers, she bridges the gap between chaos and help. She admits there are tough moments—the ones that stay with you after you take off the headset—but those moments also remind her why she chose this path.

“Every call is someone’s worst day,” she says. “I strive to address each moment of crisis with compassion and support.”

Rosabelle enjoys the work-life balance her job provides as she works a rotational shift of four days at work with four days off. She spends her time off, celebrating her Metis/Cree heritage with beading activities and indigenous smudging ceremonies. She also spends a great deal of time outdoors, hiking and canoeing through the many trails and waterways in the Lower Mainland.

Witnessing the impact of work from many police officers has sparked Rosabelle to consider that role for herself. Earlier this year, Rosabelle participated in the RCMP Indigenous Pre-Cadet Training Program - a three-week training session at the RCMP Academy (Depot) in Regina. There, she learned an introduction to the Criminal Code and RCMP policy, as well physical fitness, drill and the skills needed to prepare her application to become an officer.

Rosabelle hopes to carry her unique perspective of someone who has supported the front lines to the frontline.  Looking back, she laughs at how nervous she was in her first training sessions. Now, she realizes her passion for helping others won’t stop at the Communications Centre, her ultimate goal is out in the field, facing those challenges firsthand as a police officer.

Her journey underscores an important truth about policing—it’s not just about the officers in uniform, but also about the voices behind the scenes. Dispatchers may not be visible at the frontlines, but they are first responders in every sense of the word. And for Rosabelle, it’s not just a job, it’s a calling she grew into, one call at a time.

Student Police Call Taker Program

Like Rosabelle, choosing to participate in the Student Police Call Taker program may be one of the most rewarding decisions you will make. Applications for the 2026 Student Police Call Taker program in Kelowna are being accepted until October 14, 2025. Employment opportunities are offered full-time between May to August. If you are passionate about serving your community, this may be the career for you. Learn more at 9-1-1 Police Dispatchers - Student opportunities.

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