Emergency Communications Dispatcher
Job Summary
Work related to supporting the day-to-day operations of a 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.
- Prioritizes all incoming emergency and non-emergency calls and determines appropriate priority or response.
- Performs crisis intervention with distraught callers during high-risk situation until appropriate emergency field units arrive on scene.
- Questions caller to determine nature of problem, priority and jurisdiction of call, and determines type and number of personnel and equipment needed.
- Scans status charts and computer screens to determine units available and their locations.
- May operate multi-channel radio to dispatch police, fire, medical and other personnel and equipment and to relay instructions or information to first responders.
- Provides pre-arrival instructions to caller such as emergency medical information.
- May provide information to police officers such as criminal histories and warrant confirmation.
- Enters, retrieves, and updates information into the state and national crime computer systems such as stolen property, runaways and warrants.
- Performs various clerical duties such as delivering mail and messages and updating files.
- Provides information and referrals to citizens and other law enforcement and emergency agencies.
- Monitors periodically throughout the shift, or upon an officer's request, a bank of TV monitors to view CAD, security cameras, television channels and internet sites; monitors and opens security gates and doors throughout the building throughout a shift.
- May train new emergency services dispatchers.
- Other assigned duties as necessary.
City Competencies
- Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
- Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
- A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
- A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.
Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities
- Ability to type a minimum of 40 wpm and use word processing computer programs.
- Ability to handle high stress and emergency situations.
- Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Ability to read maps and provide directions.
- Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide numbers.
- Ability to define problems, collect data quickly and accurately, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
- Ability to transmit facts calmly and concisely over the radio and telephone.
- Must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office machines, which includes computers and copier.
- Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagrammatic form.
- Ability to differentiate between colors and shades of colors.
- Ability to talk and/or hear (talking- expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing- perceiving nature of sounds by ear).
- Ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated office equipment.
- Ability to work shifts and overtime shifts.
Required Education
MINIMUM/PREFERRED EDUCATION LEVEL
Minimum High school diploma or general education degree (GED.
Experience Requirements
- Three (3) years of successful work experience in any field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. The City may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.