Communications Dispatcher

Salary: $63,561

Position Summary:

This is highly responsible shift work, involving the operation of modern communications equipment, including computers, radios and telephones. Employees receive emergency 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls, complaints and inquiries from the public, evaluate and dispatch police, fire and emergency medical services. The work of this division is maintained twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week, including weekends and holidays. Employees are assigned to work day, afternoon and midnight shifts, including frequent weekends and holidays. This is sedentary work. Lunches are usually consumed at workstations. Although breaks can be taken away from the workstation, the dispatcher does not leave the premises during an assigned shift.

Essential Functions:

• Receives and transmits messages to and from police, fire and emergency medical units, as well as other local government and municipal communications units via two-way radio.
• Receives enhanced 9-1-1 emergency telephone calls for service; evaluates situation to determine appropriate response, and dispatches and advises appropriate response unit.
• Provides Emergency Medical Dispatching services.
• Communicates effectively with people of varying language and communications abilities.
• Communicates effectively during stressful telephone contacts, dealing effectively with hysterical, injured or disoriented callers.
• Operates the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) System and Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) using keyboard device in conjunction with dispatching police units.
• Operates the Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN) computer system via keyboard.
• Participates in the Emergency Response Unit requiring on-call emergency response.
• Works shift assignments including frequent weekends and holidays.
• Demonstrates regular and predictable attendance.

Requirements:

• Graduation from an accredited high school or GED equivalent.
• Supplemental course work or experience in the use of computers and related applications is helpful.
• 9-1-1 Dispatch experience desired.