‘Serious about the job,’: Public Safety Telecommunicator Training prepares dispatchers to serve their community

Four times a year, up to 30 students from around the state take critical training at the New Mexico Department of Public Safety Law Enforcement Academy with an eye on helping citizens in their community.

The training? The Public Safety Telecommunicator course, for aspiring hired dispatchers in city, county, state, federal or tribal governments in New Mexico (the first in the nation to make it mandatory that telecommunicators attend a formal training).

"It is crucial for dispatchers to be prepared for anything at all times," said Barbara Schalkofski, lead telecommunicator and instructor for the New Mexico Department of Public Safety of the training. "They must be ready to handle almost anything that citizens and officers may present. This course equips them to manage real-life scenarios when they enter the field."

The training which has been held at the academy since 1976 is currently wrapping up the 171st class with graduation on May 15. Instruction kicks off with students learning the curriculum within the Association of Public Communications Officials structure. The training then evolves into 911 calls and what to ask; mental health; and legal issues and how to use the National Crime Information Center system. It then transitions to training on the Fire and Emergency Medical Services; how to use a fire extinguisher with information from state fire officials; and finally critical incident management including hazardous materials with the New Mexico State Police. The course concludes with four practical exercise scenarios using the skills learned and a final state examination.

"We teach them how to use Computer Aided Dispatch and how to multitask-being able to talk on the radio and on the telephone at the same time," said Schalkofski. "They are trained to assist in a wide range of different situations. While they may not know everything, they have taken the initiative to learn in order to help the citizens in their community-that's why they are here."

Class 171 graduates are:

Alexis

Baca,

Santa Rosa Police Department

Alexis

Bilbao,

Albuquerque Police Department Communications Division

Amanda

Farmer,

Alamogordo Police Department

Alisha M.

Garcia,

Ruidoso Police Department

Morgan Leann

Gentry,

Luna County Central Dispatch

Brittanie

Gleason,

Alamogordo Police Department

Victoriano

Herrera,

Public Safety Emergency Communications Center of Sandoval County

Brooklynn

Herweg,

Taos Central Communications Authority

Steven

Hidalgo,

Public Safety Emergency Communications Center of Sandoval County

Jodi Rai

Kallestewa,

Zuni Police Department

Rebekah

Krieger,

Alamogordo Police Department

Adrian

Leal,

Portales Communications Center

Salomon A.

Lopez,

Santa Rosa Police Department

Misty G.

Nunez,

Pueblo of Laguna Communications Program

Mattie

Rivera,

Taos Central Communications Authority

Alexis

Romero,

Taos Central Communications Authority

Payton

Rutter,

Public Safety Emergency Communications Center of Sandoval County

Stella

Stoico,

Los Alamos Police Department

Chelsea

Strength,

Clovis Police Department

Christopher

Trujillo,

Public Safety Emergency Comms Center of Sandoval County

John M

Turner,

Sierra County Regional Dispatch Authority

Adrianna	Vigil,	Alamogordo Police Department

Lead Instructors like Schalkofski must ensure her and her subordinates have an up-to-date curriculum incorporating the latest technology in order to train the students effectively. Greg Archuleta Lynch along with Schalkofski complete the instructor cadre.

"Greg is a stellar instructor," Schalkofski. "Together we have an amazing cadre to teach this curriculum."

Recent additions to the Public Safety Telecommunicator class include CPR, racial sensitivity training and Peer to Peer training (where employees take responsibility for others).

One example of a critical incident management scenario Schalkofski provided involves a "tanker truck that rolls over and gasoline that spills everywhere," where the dispatcher has to use the Critical Incident Command System to be able to manage the incident and properly dispatch resources and public safety personnel to the incident location.

To become a dispatcher, applicants must be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED and be able to accurately type 35 words per minute. Interested applicants must pass a background check, a drug test, and a hearing test and must be a citizen or legal resident. Dispatchers work 40 hours per week with the opportunity to work overtime.

Interested? Please email a recruiter for additional information and insight on the application process: [email protected] or call one of the recruiters in the following locations - Las Cruces: 505-629-3807; Albuquerque: 505-316-3122; Las Vegas: 505-652-8302.

The next class is August 3-21, 2026.

Story by New Mexico Department of Public Safety Public Information Officer John Heil. Photos by DPS Media Relations Unit - Curtis Althaus.