‘How to: 911’
Loveland dispatchers host local podcast about the job
Two of the Loveland Police Department’s dispatch team members have taken their appreciation for their positions to the next level, launching a podcast to talk about their job as dispatchers and fur ther educate the community on what they do.
During her training in 2019, communications specialist Sami Pohl said she was so interested in podcasts that she decided she wanted to make one of her own. But the ideas that friends were giving her were just not sticking.
“The only thing that was sticking in my head was my job,” Pohl said. “I always want to talk to ever ybody about my job because of the lack of knowledge of what 911 does. When I first star ted this job, even doing it, I was like ‘why are we not taught these things?'”
This podcast excitement was shared with her communications training officer at the time, communication specialist Erica Snyder.
Snyder said when Pohl came to her with the idea, she thought it was a different and innovative way to get information out to the public about what they do as dispatchers.
“I see a lot of value in it, and I see a lot of value in suppor ting people with ideas that I don’t have and I wouldn’t have thought of on my own or even had wanted to venture into,” Snyder said.
From there, the two wrote a proposal for the creation of a podcast that would talk about all things 911. In the proposal, Pohl noted the target audience and opportunities to reach that audience were endless. This led to the creation of “How To: 911,” a podcast from the “first-first responders, 911 operators, who just want to save lives and help people,” according to the podcast’s Spotify page.
The podcast of ficially launched in April 2020 with the support from the Loveland Police Department, including the purchasing of equipment and other items as well as time and space to record new episodes.
The first episode focuses on some of the most impor tant par ts of 911 calls, and the two have since uploaded 25 more episodes. Ranging in topic and focus, the podcast of fers a look into the world of 911 operations, including updates on the pandemic and guest spots from their fellow personnel.
Since beginning, the podcast has received over 1,400 plays, according to the department, and has expanded to an Instagram with more than 650 followers and a Youtube page where they share recorded episodes.
“I didn’t want to do it for the follows,” Pohl said. “I don’t care how many people follow us, but it is crazy to think that there are over 600 people that are interested in what we are doing. That blows my mind.”
She added that while she initially thought it would be friends, family and colleagues exclusively that would listen to the show “it has evolved into so much more.”
This podcast also garnered recognition from the Loveland Police Department. Pohl and Snyder were honored with the community education award during the annual LPD awards Feb. 19.
“It was an honor that they thought of us in that role and to think we are impacting the police department and the community,” Snyder said. “To be recognized is really special.”
Pohl and Snyder hope the podcast will continue to grow and reach more people.
Pohl said they are hoping to expand guest coverage to include emergency medical services personnel and fire officials. She added that while she is worried they might run out of things to talk about, ever y day brings them a new list of topics they could make episodes on.
The two are also hoping to hear from the community on questions that people may have about the job and to make episodes around answering those questions.
Both agreed that having a podcast focusing on how 911 operators and dispatching work can both enter tain and educate.
“To have a different way to access information where you don’t know you need it until you need it, so I think it is a great tool to have,” Snyder said.
Pohl said that, as a younger person coming into the job, she cannot believe some of the things she learns and does as a dispatcher, so she cannot be the only person that is thinking about it.
She added she hopes that people who are calling in listen to the podcast to learn more about who they are talking to and how the system works but also who is the correct person to call in any situation.
“I hope if they listen to the podcast they either have a better understanding or know their questions are answered,” Pohl said.
“This is really neat finding its own place in that public education,” Snyder added.
“How To: 911” can be found on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, Apple Music and Anchor, as well as the show’s Youtube page. Community members can also write to the show by sending emails to Howto911@cityoflove- land.org.