Police Telecommunicator

Responsible for performing specialized telecommunications work in receiving and processing emergency and non-emergency calls for the police department.  An employee in this class is responsible for receiving service calls from the public, prioritizing calls, dispatching appropriate public safety officials, and maintaining open lines of communication during emergency situations. Emphasis of the work is on taking emergency calls from citizens or businesses, data entry into emergency computer aided dispatch consoles, providing information and referral to the public, and communicating with police officials during emergencies. The employee must have the ability to multi-task and make decisions under stress. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Communications Supervisor and is evaluated based on call handling according to defined protocols, personal observation, review of tapes, and feedback from public safety personnel and the public.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Receives emergency and non-emergency calls from the public; evaluates requests for service; prioritizes the call according to protocol; and dispatches police officers.
• Receives after-hours calls for utilities, street maintenance, and traffic signal malfunctions.
• Operates a two-way radio system to dispatch law enforcement officers to emergencies; communicates with and relays all appropriate information to responders as situations unfold; and sends additional units to situation based on officer’s requests or updated information.
• Monitors self-initiated activities of police officers and provides them with information on retained suspects.
• Maintains records of authorizations, warrants, and other information required for DCI/NCIC entries; logs all activities.
• Uses NC AWARE Program to check for outstanding warrants; and communicates results to officers in the field.
• Closes telecommunications calls for service and identifies police units back in service.
• Updates criminal history logs.
• Collects data from the previous day and creates a morning report that is sent out to news media and police administration.
• Stays up to date on call disposition codes, ten-codes, department policy, procedures, and general orders.
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

  Qualifications for a Police Telecommunicator I – Grade 1 - $43,077.05 - $54,319.32

   Education and Experience:

   High school diploma; and experience in a dispatch function or extensive public contact role, and in law enforcement or EMS; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

   Special Qualifications:

• Probationary or General Telecommunicator Certificate as awarded by the North Carolina Sheriffs Education Training and Standards Commission,
• CJleads certification, or the ability to obtain in one year
• NC DCI 1-3 Certifications, or ability to obtain in one year
• NCAWARE and CJLEADS training, or ability to obtain in one year

    Qualifications for a Police Telecommunicator II – Grade 13 - $45,230.90 - $57,035.29

    Education and Experience:

    High school diploma; and three (3) years’ experience in a dispatch function or extensive public contact role, and in law enforcement or EMS; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.     

    Special Qualifications:

• General Telecommunicators Certificate as awarded by the North Carolina Sheriffs Education and Training Standards Commission, or ability to obtain in one year
• CJleads certification, or ability to obtain in one year
• NC DCI 1-3 Certification, or ability to obtain in one year
• NCAWARE and CJLEADS training, or ability to obtain in one year
• 100 hours of law enforcement/telecommunicator continuing education

    Qualifications for a Police Telecommunicator II – Grade 14 - $47,492.45 - $59,887.05

    Education and Experience:

    High school diploma; and eight (8) years of experience in a dispatch function or extensive public contact role, and in law enforcement or EMS; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

    Special Qualifications:

• Basic telecommunicators certificate, or ability to obtain within one year
• CJleads certification, or ability to obtain within one year
• Intermediate Telecommunicator Certificate as awarded by the North Carolina Sheriff's Standard Certification, or ability to obtain within one year
• NC DCI Certification, or ability to obtain within one year
• NCAWARE and CJLEADS training, or ability to obtain within one year
• 200 hours of Law Enforcement/telecommunicator continuing education (150 hours with AA degree, 100 hours with BA/BS degree).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the operation and use of computer aided dispatching equipment.
• Knowledge of FCC communications signals in lieu of voice traffic.
• Knowledge of various support manuals and resources such as call books, HAZMAT manual, tactical dispatch manual, and other standard operating procedural manuals.
• Knowledge of current telecommunications practices and procedures as well as practices and procedures used in the police and fire departments.
• Knowledge of computer aided dispatch computer systems and ability to type at least 35 words per minute.
• Knowledge of city geography and street locations.
• Ability to manage multiple situations at once under stressful conditions.
• Ability to operate a computer terminal, telephones, radios, computer-aided dispatch (CAD) consoles; ability to sit for long periods of time in low light with multiple computer screens.
• Ability to enter information on a call while talking to a citizen, or police providing service.
• Ability understand or comprehend calls made with different accents or broken English.
• Ability to read maps quickly, scan warrant files, and review recorded tapes.
• Ability to calmly communicate with people in emergency and stressful situations and document actions taken.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Work in this classification is defined as light work requiring the physical exertion of up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Work requires climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, handling, and repetitive motions. Work requires dexterity in the hands for typing and operation of standard office equipment and visual acuity is necessary to read handwritten and typewritten materials and to operate a computer terminal. Vocal communication is required to express or exchange ideas. Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels. Visual acuity is required for depth perception, preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection of products, operation of machines, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities. Focused concentration for extended periods of time causing fatigue without periodic breaks is an occupational hazard.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is primarily performed in an atmospheric controlled environment and is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions with the exception that the work area is devoid of primary lighting due to visibility requirement of multiple computer screens.