Over the years, the expectations of public safety dispatchers have expanded considerably to include responsibilities that go beyond the traditional role of a dispatcher. People often associate the role of a dispatcher as being the first point of contact for someone experiencing an emergency and needing assistance. This study sought to assess the perception of the training effectiveness of the Public Safety Dispatch Academy using the first two levels of Kirkpatrick's Evaluation Model. Kentucky requires all full-time, public safety dispatchers attain certification from the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council (KLEC). Information was obtained the scores of written examinations during the training academy, and two questionnaires gauging student reaction to training before and after the academy. It was hypothesized dispatch academy students with a positive perception of training will experience higher scores on the written academic examinations than those with lower perceptions. It was also hypothesized students with positive perceptions of training will experience an overall higher average of learning than students with a negative perception of training. Survey results and examination scores from nine academies held over a 14-month period were reviewed and determined a modest level of learning occurred during the academy. Results indicate the students in the academy have an increase of learning as measured by written exam scores and their own perception of skill. Students who indicated the academy did not meet their training expectations still had significant increase in score from pretest to post. Students who answered they disagreed or strongly disagreed the academy prepared them for the job as a dispatcher still had an average 23.6-point increase in learning, just two-tenths less from those who agreed or strongly agreed. Student surveys indicated an increase in the perception of skill in three main job categories with 90 percent of students indicating the academy met their training expectations and 86 percent indicating the academy prepared them for the job as a dispatcher. There was a weak correlation between student perception of training on the surveys and increase of score on the written exam indicating an increase in learning. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]