Durham Tech creates 911 academy to help city fill vital roles

J.B. Buxton, president of the college, said that the goal of the new academy is to create more jobs and offer Durham qualified and trained professionals.
Posted 12/8/2021, 10:59:39 PM Updated 12/8/2021, 11:00:13 PM

THAT MADE THOSE DISCOVERIES

HAPPEN.

BACK TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU, MARK.

>>> IT IS THE SECOND DAY ON THE

JOB FOR DURHAM'S NEW MAYOR AND

SHE ALREADY ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO

TACKLE A LONGSTANDING ISSUE.

NEARLY 40% OF OPERATIONAL

POSITIONS AT THE 9-1-1 CENTER

ARE VACANT, HOPEFULLY NOT FOR

LONG.

WRAL REPORTED FOR MONTHS THEY

ARE FACING DIRE STAFFING SHORT

MANIES, BUT BUXTON SAYS DURHAM

TECH WILL OFFER A TWO MONTH

PROGRAM TO TRAIN DISPATCHERS.

>> YOU HAVE COMMUNICATION

CENTERS LIKE DURHAM 9/11 NOT

ONLY DOING THE WORK BUT ALSO

DOING IN-HOUSE TRAINING ON NEW

EMPLOYEES.

WE WANT TO TAKE THAT BURDEN OFF

OF THEM SO THEY CAN FOCUS ON

THE WORK.

>> Reporter: PART OF TACKLING

CRIME IS FILLING POLICE OFFICER

VACANCIES, TOO.

TO HELP SHE WILL BE SUPPORTING

A SALARY INCREASE THAT COUNCIL

IS EXPECTED TO REVIEW EARLY

NEXT YEAR.

>> MY VOTE WILL BE A YES VOTE.

I BELIEVE THAT THEY START OFF

APPROXIMATELY 30 SOME THOUSAND

DOLLARS AND TO THINK ABOUT WHAT

THEY DO ON A DAILY BASIS

CONCERNS ME.

>> Reporter: AS FAR AS THE 9-1-

1 DISPATCHER TRAINING PROGRAM

AT DURHAM TECH, THE PRESIDENT

TOLD ME THE HOPE IS TO GET THAT

OFF THE GROUND IN MID SPRING.

HE SAID HE WILL BE MEETING WITH

THE MAYOR WITHIN THE NEXT

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