Emergency Services Dispatcher
Salary: $61,048.00 – $75,379.20 Annually
Closing Date: 2/9/2025
Position Summary:
Receives and answers 911, emergent, and non-emergent telephone and text calls for multiple police, fire, and other agencies in El Paso County. Dispatches law enforcement agencies, fire departments, search and rescue, and medical units. Provides pre-arrival instructions on medical and fire calls. Performs data entry and retrieval within multiple computer systems; performs administrative duties as needed. Assists in all areas of the training program, including training personnel on the functions and duties of the Communications Center. Assigned to special projects and working groups as directed. Assumes shift supervisory duties in the Supervisor’s absence, as assigned. This position requires excellent decision-making with sound judgment and communication skills as well as the ability to multi-task while maintaining a high degree of emotional self-control in potentially stressful, negative, and sometimes aggressive situations.
Essential Functions:
- Answers, evaluates, and prioritizes 911, emergent, and non-emergent telephone and text calls.
- Calms, negotiates, and interviews callers to obtain complete and accurate information to determine the urgency and need for emergency services.
- Prioritizes and documents information and ensures timely notification to the appropriate agency.
- Provides self-help and pre-arrival instructions to callers when appropriate using established protocols.
- Enters and monitors all calls for service and unit activities utilizing a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) System for numerous law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and several individual County and municipal departments.
- Tracks the status and location of emergency responders and other field units. Maintains accurate and complete logs of records of communications; maintains handwritten notes in the event of a CAD failure.
- Dispatches law enforcement agencies, fire departments, search and rescue, and medical units using a digital 800 MHz radio system. Transmits and receives messages and information to and from emergency responders and other field units.
- Operates various paging and notification systems; monitors and updates inter-agency emergency notification systems.
- Provides investigative support through data entry and retrieval in CAD, NCIC/CCIC, records management system, jail management system, and other resources. Conducts searches for warrants, driving status, vehicle registrations, and criminal histories. Relays information to appropriate personnel.
- Enters, confirms, updates, and modifies data in NCIC/CCIC regarding warrants, missing people, stolen vehicles or guns, and other records.
- Operates and performs routine checks for telephone and radio recording systems; coordinates repairs to systems as needed.
- Provides excellent customer service to all citizens, emergency responders, and staff; maintains effective working relationships.
- Maintains confidentiality for citizens, emergency responders, and other employees.
- Provides on the job training and mentoring for new hires in the Communications Center as directed.
- Assists the Communications Center training program, including conducting scenarios and tests for all disciplines of dispatching and call taking. May provide training to other sections, departments, or outside agencies as needed.
- Demonstrates knowledge and adherence to established rules, policies, and procedures. Completes job-related training and continuing education as required, within allowable time limits.
- Provides courtroom testimony as required.
- Assigned to special projects and workings groups as directed. May participate in tabletop and full scales exercises as assigned.
- Assumes shift supervisory duties as assigned.
- Performs other duties as required.
Requirements:
- High school diploma or equivalent education.
- Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
- Must obtain and maintain Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Compliance within six months of employment.
- Must possess and maintain a valid CPR Certification within thirty days of starting the Dispatch General Training Academy.
- Must possess and maintain NCIC/CCIC Certification within thirty days of starting the Dispatch General Training Academy.
- Must obtain a National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) Certification within thirty days of starting the Dispatch General Training Academy.
- Must possess and maintain an International Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch Certification within thirty days of starting the Dispatch General Training Academy.