Tactical Telecommunicator

GENERAL SUMMARY:

Under general direction of the Tactical Telecommunicator Supervisor, operates telecommunications equipment to receive and evaluate incoming calls for police, fire and medical assistance and dispatch appropriate personnel and equipment to emergencies; operates and monitor the various CCTV systems, terminal alarms, and provide surveillance support for daily incidents and criminal cases to local, state, and federal courts. Roles and responsibilities will be assigned to specific workstations, not simultaneously, based on staffing levels and operational needs. Work is performed in a stressful environment where a variety of calls, frequently emergency in nature, are screened and dispatched within short time frames.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Operates and monitors Emergency 911 system, multiple talk group two-way radio system and departmental telephone lines, receives and evaluates incoming requests for police, fire and medical assistance and dispatches police, fire and medical units as required based on the nature of the call; disseminates information to field units as required.
• Evaluates and prioritizes emergency medical calls based on nationally recognized Emergency Medical Dispatch protocol.
• Monitors status of all on-duty police, fire and medical units, coordinating availability of each unit and the need for additional assistance from on-call personnel.
• Maintains notification files and makes requests for services from other Airport Board departments, specialized police/fire units, secondary ambulance services, wrecker service, and others as needed.
• Maintains status of all off-duty, on-call Public Safety personnel, including K-9, criminal investigation, command personnel, and others as designated.
• Operates and monitors a variety of computers, including local, state and national information networks and fire and burglar alarm systems.
• Performs tests and interface functions on a variety of electronic emergency systems and alarms, including the Emergency 911-computer system, to ensure proper function and back-up capability.
• Prepares and maintains a variety of manual and electronic logs and files documenting telecommunications activities, ensuring compliance with local, State, and Federal documentation requirements.
• Ensures all telecommunications activities follow Federal Communications Commission regulations.
• Monitors Public Safety records area, front lobby, service counter and jail book-in area using video monitors and audio receivers.
• Operates and monitors the CCTV system for incoming alarms, suspicious activity, emergency responses, etc.; dispatches appropriate law enforcement on incoming alarms from terminal checkpoints in accordance with DPS Standard Operating Procedures and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations.
• Monitors critical safety and security systems such as CCTV and fire exit door alarm systems; uses discretion in determining severity of situation and appropriate response; dispatches first responders to required events.
• Remains alert and aware of DPS radio traffic; listening for calls for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and paramedics inside the terminals; uses CCTV equipment to follow and record calls for police service as possible evidence in criminal cases or administrative cases.
• Uses CCTV equipment to provide real time situational awareness to first responders, emergency service supervisors and incident commanders.
• Performs daily tests on the CCTV systems and alarms to ensure proper function and back-up capability is working properly at all checkpoints in the terminals. Monitors the closing of checkpoints at the end of the operational period.
• Utilizes the Access Control Office (ACO) computer system, for law enforcement purposes, to retrieve needed biographical information on employees and other badge holders who, may have committed a violation of the Airport Security Program, while using the Employee Portals.
• Assists law enforcement with needed biographical information regarding the “No Fly List” (highly confidential TSA information database which is updated daily) for hotel guests wishing entry into the terminal sterile concourse. Upon acquiring the needed information, notifies law enforcement of any security restrictions on these individuals.
• Assists law enforcement with recordings daily by retrieving, playing back, reviewing, copying and distribution of audio/visual recordings they have located on specific incidents as directed through a DPS Supervisor. This evidence is collected and used to support criminal cases in local, state and federal courts.
• Performs visual checks on security sensitive areas where CCTV cameras have been placed to monitor passenger, employee and vehicle movement.
• Uses the CCTV system to record airfield incidents such as aircraft alerts, fires, accidents, or others as requested by the incident commander. These video views are instantly made available to the AOC and DPS command staff.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Completion of high school curriculum or equivalent.
• One (1) year of experience in an airport environment or one (1) year of experience performing telecommunications activities and/or CCTV surveillance in a public safety, security, or airport environment.
• Ability to pass State of Texas certification and licensing requirements for Telecommunicators within one year from date of hire or from date of appointment to the position of Tactical Telecommunicator if not already licensed and certified in the State of Texas.
• Ability to pass certification requirements for Texas Crime Information Center /National Crime Information Center (TCIC/NCIC) and Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunications/National Law Enforcement Telecommunications (TLETS/NLETS) within one year from date of hire or date of appointment to the position of Tactical Telecommunicator if not already certified.
• Ability to pass certification requirements for Emergency Medical Dispatch protocols within one year from date of hire or from date of appointment to the position of Tactical Telecommunicator if not already EMD certified through International Academy of Emergency Dispatch.
• Ability to pass CJIS Security Awareness Training within six months of employment.
• Must not have been convicted of a Class “B” misdemeanor within the last ten (10) years or any offense greater than a Class “B”.
• Must not have been convicted of any family violence offense.
• Ability to pass a personal and criminal background check
• Ability to pass a psychological evaluation.
• Ability to pass a truth verification examination.
• Ability to pass a medical physical examination.
• Possession of a valid Class C driver’s license.
• Must obtain a Security Identification Display Area (SIDA) Airport Identification/Access Badge (badge) in accordance with Department of Homeland Security Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requirements in Chapter 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 1500 et. Al. and DFW Airport’s Airport Security Program within thirty (30) days from date of employment and maintain qualification for a SIDA badge upon each badge renewal.
• This is a designated safety sensitive position as defined in DFW Airport’s Drug and Alcohol Administrative Policy and Procedure. Applicants selected for this position will be required to pass a drug screening test prior to employment and to submit to drug screening on a random basis during the length of their employment in the safety sensitive position.
• This is a designated Essential Employee position as defined in DFW Airport’s Categories and Classifications Administrative Policy and Procedure. An essential employee is one whose attendance is required to maintain airport operations during an emergency or inclement weather situation.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the principles, methods, practices and terminology used in public safety telecommunications and its application in real-time response situations.
• Knowledge of Federal Communications Commission regulations relating to telecommunications activities and protocol.
• Knowledge of principle, practices and terminology used in CCTV monitoring and its application in real-time response situations.
• Working knowledge of computer systems and technology including but not limited to computer aided dispatch, CCTV, public safety radio, parking control systems, TDD systems, paging systems, maintenance management, fire alarm status systems, access control, and other systems critical to airport operations.
• Knowledge and ability to use miscellaneous software including Microsoft Excel, Word, and other programs to compile and produce routine reports.
• Ability to work under stressful conditions, analyze and coordinate situations and make decisions rapidly based established operating procedures.
• Ability to verbally communicate clearly and effectively using the English language on a variety of telecommunications systems, including two-way radio and telephone, to provide routine and non-routine information and instructions and to elicit detailed information from callers in emergency situations.
• Ability to think clearly and concisely, analyze data from a variety of sources, and make rapid decisions and judgments in response to emergency requests for assistance.
• Ability to attend to and process information from several audio and visual sources simultaneously.
• Ability to maintain effective and harmonious internal and external working relationships.
• Ability to work hours and assignments as determined by operational need; i.e., 9-1-1, Police/Fire dispatch, CCTV monitoring, or other assignments as needed.