Pam Myers is among the few dispatchers in Idaho to retire in that position.
For 33 years, Myers has taken good and bad calls, first for the Caldwell Police Department starting in 1985 and then for 24 years with the Nampa Police Department.
Stress and trauma from taking emergency calls can hinder dispatchers from reaching the required age and years worked to retire. In Idaho dispatchers are not eligible to retire until they’ve reached the Rule of 90, meaning their age plus years on the job equal 90.
Legislation slated for in the upcoming session would give dispatchers such as Myers the Rule of 80 in retirement. Like law enforcement officers and firefighters, dispatchers would be eligible to retire when their age and number of years worked equaled 80. The goal is to help agencies retain dispatchers.
With the Rule of 80, Myers, 56, could have retired five years earlier.