Jamie Pike has been working as a telecommunications officer in the Operational Communications Centre (OCC) with the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador for the past three years—and no two days are ever the same.
In his role, Jamie is responsible for emergency call taking and dispatching police officers to emergencies across the province. Whether it's a 911 call or a high-priority incident requiring immediate attention, he's the first point of contact for people in distress and a critical lifeline for officers on the ground.
Jamie says the most interesting part of the job is the unpredictability. You really never know what the next phone call is going to be. It could be something routine, or extremely high priority.
The best part of working in the OCC, Jamie says, is knowing he's actively helping the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
So, what does it take to succeed in this line of work? According to Jamie, OCC operators need a level head, strong organization, care and compassion, and excellent communication skills. "You need to be empathetic, self-disciplined, a team player, and able to stay calm and focused when people are calling in distress," he says. Problem-solving and thinking quickly are also essential when lives could be on the line.