When we are in trouble, have an emergency or a crime has been committed, we call on the police to protect and defend us. Personnel must be available 24 hours a day to calmly listen to our needs, reassure us, and quickly dispatch the proper assistance. Can you imagine spending your entire workday listening to people in crisis and hearing the bad things that happen in your community? How do you find and keep personnel who can thrive in such a stressful work environment?
Company Overview
Industry: Law Enforcement | Sheriff's Office
Location: Colorado, USA
Employee Size: 600
Instruments Used
ProScan®
TeamScan®
JobScan®
The Situation
Traditionally, turnover in police, fire, and medical dispatch nationwide is 30% or more. El Paso County Sheriff’s office was no different at 33%. Understanding the need for stable dispatch officers, the need to improve morale, and the need to build teamwork between the three dispatch shifts motivated this office to set out to make positive changes.
The Objectives
To retain valuable, trained dispatch officers.
To create a more cohesive workplace.
To solicit and hire new personnel who would be successful dispatchers.
The Challenge
The division commander implemented PDP to work toward their overall goal of reducing turnover.
AProScan survey was taken by all dispatch personnel, identifying behavioral strengths, challenges, and support needs. Shift managers were trained to provide ProScan feedback sessions, which lead to the development of individual performance goals for each employee. These insights provided new tools for conversing, encouraging, rewarding, and counseling.
TeamScan®was used at a retreat of the top 30 officers to increase understanding and identify actions needed to improve teamwork. TeamScan was also used in team building sessions for each of the three dispatch shifts. These team building sessions resulted in 45 action items to improve communication.
Two examples from the 45 action items resulting from these sessions were: 1. Hire an architect to assess the disruptive work environment—associates would yell over cubicles, and 2. Develop a monthly newsletter from each shift to keep people informed.
UsingJobScan, five high performer ProScans and 26Job Dynamic Analysis Surveys (JDAs) were combined to produce a Job Model for dispatch. All three shift managers and 23 dispatchers, who had worked there for one year or more, completed the JDAs. Amazingly, there was high consensus between the ProScans and the JDAs. They collectively knew what characteristics and behaviors would make someone successful in this job, but prior to the JobScan modeling process, they had no systematic way of screening for this profile. This process identified High Dominance as a preferred trait—drawing attention to existing interaction issues related to this characteristic. Coaching was then provided to the High Dominance personnel in order to help them “soften” their approach and learn to work better with different traits.
Current advertisements were rewritten to attract applicants who fit the dispatcher Job Model profile. Using the “How to Advertise” section of the JDA report, applicants were screened against the model using the Applicant ProScansurvey, and behavioral interview questions were asked from the Interviewing Guide generated by JobScan. This Job Model and customized advertisement allowed the Sheriff’s office to look beyond experience when interviewing and increase the percentage of appropriate job matches.
The Measurable Results
Turnover was reduced from 33% to 2.8%, which is a difference of 91.5%. Employee retention increased as strengths were valued, motivators recognized, and teamwork improved.
Dispatcher Job Model profile, targeted advertising, and customized interviewing made hiring more effective.
Each of the 45 communication action items from the team sessions were addressed, improving morale and a sense of value (i.e., architect hired—redesigned work spaces, key people chosen to do the newsletter, etc.).
Individual PDP profiles and TeamScan information were utilized for a more intimate understanding of each other. Conflict between and among the three dispatch shifts decreased as understanding increased.
A committee to recognize employee excellence was implemented, further improving morale.
Communication action items addressed
Reduction in Turnover
Level of Turnover
“The dispatcher profile and job advertisement have both proven to be successful…our current turnover rate is 2.8 percent. Our personnel regularly display enthusiasm and a strong commitment to work ethic and professionalism.”
Division Commander
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