Book recounts instances of sometimes funny, sometimes outlandish and in some cases, tragic events

A now-retired member of the San Diego Police Department's 9-1-1 dispatch unit has penned a book highlighting some of her more memorable calls.

Although some, which involved helping parents deal with coming home to find a deceased child, were far much more tragic than others, in which people abused 9-1-1 to ask about silly things, like when the Chargers game was starting.

Author Lucia Tulumello worked in the dispatch unit for nearly two decades, according to sources within the department.  It's quite unusual for someone to have that kind of tenure in this position, they said, especially since this position is known for it's high turnover rate.

Psychologists say that's to be expected, especially considering the job can be far more emotionally taxing than positions in other fields.

Although many first responders have had the stressful nature of their jobs retold in television dramas and Hollywood cinemas, 9-1-1 dispatchers are infrequently mentioned.

Tulumello said that while a great deal of her calls were stressful and related to tragic events, others had an air of humor about them.

One was even related to a man calling about a ticket his wife had received.  He didn't recognize the penal code violation and had several questions about what the charge was for.

That particular offense, Tulumello said, was prostitution, and the husband was suddenly not surprised at how his spouse had so much money to be spending on expensive things.

The now retired dispatch operator said that while she started her career working in the homicide unit, she quickly knew she wanted to be more hands-on in terms of helping the public.

The eight-week training course was intense, she said, and included a list of calls that highlighted both what to do and what not to do.

Friends, family members urge her to write the book

Penning a book had reportedly been a bucket-list item, she said, but it wasn't until she was diagnosed with cancer that she decided to turn her 19 years of notes into a paperback.

It may be self-published, and it may not have gotten the careful pass of a skilled editor, but she's pleased with how it turned out.

The book itself has a little bit of everything, she said, from criminal stupidity, to humor, to tragic events.

The book is currently available for purchase online.