Cherika Lucas

For five years, Cherika Lucas, 36, worked as a patient care representative at Prince George’s Hospital in Prince George’s County, Md. She also served as a volunteer firefighter for the Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department for eight years.

When Lucas decided to make a career change, she knew she wanted a more flexible schedule than a typical nine-to-five job. Her interest in public safety led her to a position with the division of Public Safety Communications for Prince George’s County.

In her first year on the job, Lucas started out as a calltaker and also did some fire dispatching. She then moved on to police dispatching and currently serves as an emergency dispatcher III with a supervisory capacity. Lucas enters her 14^th year in public safety communications this December.

Lucas explains that new dispatchers at Prince George’s County must sit with a certified senior trainer for three to four months and work simultaneously to learn the process, as well as participate in classroom training to learn about general orders and operational functions and procedures.

There are several vital skills necessary to enter this field, and Lucas says compassion for others is essential. In addition, dispatchers must be able to multitask and be able to listen, type and talk at the same time. She adds that one must have good, sound judgment and be a quick thinker, because, she says, “people want answers and want them now.”

Lucas further explains that being a well-rounded person and having an open mind about events that occur in life is important. “It’s a very stressful job,” Lucas says. Therefore, being able to deal with stress is critical. Lucas managers her stress by walking, doing jigsaw puzzles, crocheting and talking about incidents with co-workers who understand and can relate, as well as with her husband, who is a Prince George’s County police officer.

Though Lucas has dealt with a variety of calls throughout her career, those dealing with children and adolescents upset her the most. She recalls a woman who called in upset because her daughter slept with an older man in the mother’s bed. The call inspired Lucas to think to a greater degree about how to raise children, as she herself is a mother to two.

Calls that involve officers in trouble also affect her. “Those calls always stick with me,” Lucas says. She recalls a citizen robbery when she was on the radio and heard that an officer had exchanged shots and was grazed by one or more bullets. “It really, really scared me. I knew I had to do my job. I couldn’t crack under pressure. The dispatcher sets the tone. I had to be there for the squad. I wanted everyone to go home,” Lucas says.

One incident Lucas says she will never forget is when her husband was involved in an accident on the job in 2001 and was knocked unconscious. A detective drove her to the scene and parked a distance away, and other officers came over to console her. Her husband was flown to a shock/trauma hospital and luckily did not suffer significant or life impacting injuries.

Lucas is a certified trainer and finds success in that role. “At times, it can be very difficult. I like helping people but it can be a challenge,” she says. She explains that the individuals she trains usually know very little about the police or fire department. According to Lucas, good trainers must possess diverse skills and be ready to adapt to different people’s learning styles.

For those thinking about entering the field, Lucas suggests doing a police ride-along and sit-along in the comm center. She encourages people to ride with the police as many days as they can, during different seasons and on various shifts. This exposure helps potential calltakers and dispatchers understand what goes on behind the scenes and get a feel for the job and the nature of the work.

Lucas was named “Dispatcher of the Year” in 2009 by Prince George’s County Public Communications Center as well as the Maryland Emergency Number Association and was recognized at the county’s Valor Awards ceremony.

Lucas is currently under consideration for the position of lead supervisor. She is a well-respected professional in her department and notably recognized in her region. She serves as a mentor and role model to aspiring career-minded individuals who may want to pursue a path in the public safety arena.

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. She serves on the Institutional Review Board of The Police Foundation, Washington, D.C.