Dispatch center forces overtime

SPANISH FORK — Dispatchers at the Utah County Sheriff's Office Dispatch Center are working mandatory overtime shifts because of a manpower shortage, a sheriff's spokesman said.

Stress associated with the job is blamed for the high turnover.

Last year the county dispatchers handled 251,375 nonemergency calls, 13,450 emergency (911) hard-line calls and 73,781 outgoing calls. Meanwhile, 125,065 calls were dispatched for public safety response. In addition, 56,211 calls were officer initiated, according to sheriff's office records.

The job also requires proficiency in multitasking. Approximately 65 percent of new hires are unable to complete basic training, resulting in continual recruitment, according to Sgt. Spencer Cannon.