911 Supervisor Provides Steady Leadership

Image of Maegan Roby

After more than seven years as a corrections officer in Jackson County, Maegan Roby wanted a change of scenery. She liked her job but craved something new.

She was interested in becoming a KCPD Call Taker, though her only experience with it was what she saw on TV or in the movies. Roby couldn’t shadow call takers, but she could ride along with officers, and that helped sway her decision.

“I was able to hear what was happening to get a feel for it from the other side.”

Today, nearly 14 years later, Roby continues to help supervise the department’s call takers and dispatchers. These first responders handle approximately one million calls a year.

“We have a broad range of emergency calls that come in,” Roby said. “They get handled first before the non-emergency calls do. And I hope the public understands that we answer both lines. It's not a separate call center for an emergency and a separate call center for non-emergencies.”

The volume and types of calls make it challenging, sometimes stressful, necessary work. Some make a career of the positions. Others can be promoted. In each case, Roby hopes to serve as a resource and supporter of her employees.

“How can I help improve my leadership?” Roby asked. “They may want to supervise or do other things in the department. I'm all about people bettering themselves.” 

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