Theresa Doyle

Theresa Doyle wanted to be a police officer on the street but learned that the Tampa, Fla., police department was hiring in the communications arena. Told that this would be a good way to get her foot in the door, Doyle, 37, applied and has been employed by the department for 10 years. Currently serving as a communication technician III, Doyle says, “I really feel that communications is where I belong.”

Doyle trains and mentors employees who are in various stages of their careers. She works with them on various aspects of communications until they are ready to be cut loose and work in their respective areas. Doyle emphasizes the ability to multitask and to anticipate what police officers will need when on a call. She says it’s not unusual to be doing 15 things at once.

Doyle points out that acute listening skills are essential, coupled with the realization that one may not have time to go back and ask questions. Because professionals in the communications department are often dealing with distressing circumstances, they must be able to adapt and, as she points out, “shake off a tragic event.”

Doyle remembers a time when she was on the radio and had dispatched a robbery of a tattoo shop. The owner had been shot in the head but the shooting resulted in a grazing. He had a gun and had gotten into a fight with the robbers. Officers arrived and arrested one robber. They set up a perimeter in which they used canine and subsequently arrested a second suspect within 15-20 minutes.

Immediately following that incident, Doyle had a call for a carjacking in the same sector, north of the robbery location. Consequently, she had to switch from robbery mode to carjacking mode. With two rapid and fast-paced calls within a short period of time, Doyle’s knowledge combined with her team of well trained dispatchers led to both events being completed properly and successfully.

Doyle says that critical incident stress management is essential. There’s a team throughout the region that talks to professionals in the aftermath of traumatic events. She recalls a time when an officer died in the line of duty and a team from the sheriffs’ department in Hillsborough County, Fla., came to debrief employees.

Doyle also emphasizes the importance of good research skills. For example, on a robbery call the only piece of information may be a street name or nickname, and communications personnel must use resources to find the actual name or location of the suspect. “I’m really good at researching. I’ve taken a lot of online courses to better my skills. I like to learn and enhance my skills the best I can,” she says. What Doyle finds most challenging is the fact that sometimes there’s a lack of information available. She may get a caller who witnesses something but the individual cannot provide a description or location.

Doyle herself is an example of versatility. One day she may be on the radio, another day on the phones, and on a day that she would classify as her favorite she is engaging in a combination of both. “I get the best of both worlds,” she says.

Doyle serves on a special Tactical Dispatch Team as team leader under a supervisor, with 16 on the team. “We do high profile events,” she says. They work the radios as well as engage in tactical response and team callouts. They may work large parades and warrant round-ups and may also have a command post activated.

Doyle has been recognized for her good work. She received “Employee of the Month” from the department three times and an award for “Communications Employee for 2010” from the Tampa Police Communications Bureau. In addition, she has received a letter of appreciation from officers who responded to a call that she worked. Most rewarding for her, she says, is “Knowing that I have a hand in helping people in their time of need.”

Doyle is single, has two brothers and a cat named Shadow. When she is not working, Doyle enjoys mountain biking, socializing with friends, watching movies and reading. Doyle also enjoys roller skating. “I don’t get to do it all that often,” she says.

In her 10 years working in the communications bureau of the Tampa Police Department, Doyle has made her mark. She serves as a mentor and inspiration to those around her, and she continues to thrive in a field that embraces both her skills and passion.

About the Author
Karen L. Bune serves as an adjunct professor at George Mason University and Marymount University in Virginia, and is a consultant for the Training and Technical Assistance Center for the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice. She is a nationally recognized speaker and trainer on public safety issues. Bune is Board Certified in Traumatic Stress and Domestic Violence, and she is a Fellow of The Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress and the National Center for Crisis Management.