KQED's The California Report Central Valley 911 Dispatch Training Program Gives Students Real World Experience
Mar 25, 2026
Samantha Rangel, KVPR reporter who produced on-the-ground coverage of a Fresno County mobile 911 dispatch training program. She describes students running AI-driven realistic call simulations. The segment covers how simulations are designed, AI scoring, and the program’s role in addressing dispatcher shortages and shaping career paths.
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Student Feels Real Stress In Simulated 911 Calls
- A high school senior experienced simulated 911 calls that felt like real emergencies.
- Jacqueline Gutierrez described adrenaline, shaking hands, and hearing gunshots while learning to stay calm on the headset.
Mobile Trailer Uses AI And Realistic Noise To Train Dispatchers
- The mobile trailer gives students immersive, realistic dispatch practice using voice and background noise variations.
- Raina Martinez runs scenarios that adjust caller tone and ambient sounds, then uses AI to score student responses.
Bring Real Dispatch Training To High Schools To Build Talent
- Expose high school students early to career technical education and real-world simulations to build a pipeline for public safety jobs.
- The Fresno County trailer travels to multiple campuses and offers college credit to encourage recruitment into dispatch roles.