Communications Officer/Disptacher

• Receives requests for police, fire and medical service by phone or other communication devices; questions caller to gather data concerning the authenticity, nature, and location of the incident and caller's identity.
• Evaluates speech and emotional state of caller, takes action necessary to calm caller, provides instructions, assistance and services as required by circumstances.
• Gather information and dispatch responders according to the unique policies, procedures and protocols for all of the Center’s police and fire agencies.
• Triage calls for service from emergency responders and partner agencies to correctly categorizes calls to ensure the correct response of fire, police and/or medical assistance.
• Receives calls for incidences not requiring dispatch of EMS units; speaks with caller to determine nature of incident and refers the caller appropriately.
• Operates CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) and other equipment to transmit or receive information.
• Maintains appropriate records and prepares reports of activities occurring during shift as needed.
• Assists public safety personnel with Records Management System (RMS) maintenance for information on people, places and property as well as criminal history investigations, warrant search and service and missing persons and stolen property listings in national databases.
• May be required to perform training functions and responsibilities for newly assigned operations personnel.
• Cultivate and maintain a climate that is free of harassment, intimidation and disrespect
• Perform other duties as required or assigned.

 WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Work schedule requires overtime, nights, evenings, weekends, and/or holidays and is subject to holdovers after scheduled shift.
• Work is confined to an immediate work area that requires continuous staffing.
• Sitting for long periods, using telephones, computers, and two-way radios which require some extended reaching and repetitive motion.
• Time is spent at computer display terminals, viewing several monitors and observing traffic patterns.
• Work involves sensitive telephone contact with the members of the public, who may be hostile, emotional, unstable, or physically or mentally distraught.
• This safety sensitive position requires the ability to deal with times of high stress due to medical and other emergencies.
• Position requires discretion in handling of sensitive information such as but not limited to, criminal history, criminal activity, medical history and location access information.
• Light physical effort required. Regularly required to sit or stand, bend and move about the facility.