911 Operators Needed In Wake County

A handful of new 911 operators are currently in training. There are still five vacant positions that need to be filled.

County officials say it is a tough job that requires certain types of skills.

"When you sit in there for 12 hours a day, processing the type of calls we get, the shootings, the robberies, the wrecks, it sort of takes a toll on people," says 911 Director Phillip Penny.

Penny says even with the slight staff shortage, the public's safety is not compromised. He says with Wake county's expected growth, the current budget proposal calls for an additional four operators next year.