When employees call Kettering Health Police Department for assistance, dispatchers are often responsible for making sure help gets where it needs to go.

The role requires dispatchers to juggle multiple responsibilities, from coordinating officer responses and managing emergency communications to monitoring security systems and supporting facilities across the Kettering Health network. It also requires quick decision-making and the ability to remain calm when situations change rapidly.

For Kyle Clark, learning those skills has been part of a professional development journey that has spanned more than 13 years at Kettering Health.

“You’re always constantly trying to better yourself,” Clark said. “I’m still learning new things that make my job better, easier and more efficient.”

Clark joined Kettering Health in 2013 as a patient transporter. Over the years, he worked in several roles before joining the police department dispatch in 2024.

The move presented one of the steepest learning curves of his career.

“It’s a lot of studying, a lot of learning, a lot of extra protocols and codes,” Clark said. “It’s a lot more responsibility. You have to make sure you learn a lot and pay attention.”

The challenge goes beyond technology and procedures. Dispatchers must be prepared to handle a wide range of situations, quickly determine the right response and connect people with the resources they need.

“My first and foremost job is managing calls for our police officers, responding and investigating or assisting any kind of staff that might be in trouble,” Clark said. “We need to make sure that we are quick and accurate for the officers.”

“You always have to have that in the back of your mind,” he added. “Somebody’s life could be on the line if you don’t.”

One of Clark’s biggest adjustments was learning how to communicate effectively during high-pressure situations.

“When I started, I had to work on putting out better traffic over the radio,” he said. “I had to teach myself to calm down and make sure it’s clear and articulate.”

That growth has been evident to Greg Stephens, manager of communications and technology for Kettering Health Police Department.

Stephens said Clark’s experience throughout Kettering Health has helped him succeed in dispatch.

“His prior knowledge and experience within Kettering Health and having those different jobs has helped him in this role,” Stephens said. “Knowing the workings of the departments he’s been with and those connections he’s made helps us streamline information much quicker.”

As Clark’s experience has grown, he has also become a resource for others. Stephens said Clark often helps employees who are shadowing dispatch operations better understand the department’s responsibilities and day-to-day work.

“Kyle is calm, reassuring when those calls come in and very thorough with his work,” Stephens said. “He takes pride in his work.”

Clark said he’s still focused on improving.

“You’re always constantly trying to better yourself,” he said. “I’m still learning new things that make my job better, easier and more efficient.”