Public Safety Dispatcher

Position Summary:

The WVU Police Communications Officer Serves as a support system to maintain the safety and security of the campus community, parents, and visitors in a fast-paced stressful environment. Maintains all inbound and outbound communications for the WVU Police Department and assist surrounding agencies. Provides Investigative, administrative, and field support to the department. Provide non-emergency information services to students, faculty, staff, and the community when requested twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Essential Functions:

• Collect, process, and disseminate information and data relative to; University Police, Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services, Parking services, fire/life safety, Environmental Health & Safety and Facilities Management units for all campuses in a timely manner relative to the WVU campus and surrounding communities as they relate to the safety of students, faculty, staff, and the public. Communications Officers will use all resources and training provided to effectively do their job minimizing any liability to the University.
• Maintain contact with WVU parking and transportation, facilities management, Health Sciences Center and roads and grounds personnel. Dispatch calls for custodians, fire control, maintenance, and parking issues.
• Conduct status checks of officers as mandated by department.
• Assess risk level of information received from caller and determine units needed to respond. Prioritizing calls received in order of precedence.
• Handle panicked and high-stressed callers during times of crisis, including but not limited to; suicide threats, missing/lost students, sexual assaults, active shooter situations, and fights in progress.
• Provide officers with pertinent information regarding descriptions of persons, vehicles, etc. as learned and/or gained by using resources available in the Communications Center or as received by caller.
• Utilize mapping software to determine caller’s location and ensure proper judication is notified of the incident.
• Transmit and/or receive communications from local, outside agencies and/or the public, noting any hazardous conditions (manmade or natural) and dispatch the appropriate persons to the scene for investigation and the implementation of corrective action.
• Access Siemens Fire Alarm System for all WVU Morgantown Campus Property. Respond with appropriate response during a fire alarm activation.
• Receive incoming calls from all parking gates throughout Morgantown Campus. Raise, lower, and lock gates as according to policy and traffic patterns.
• Communications Officers will act as a welcome service (first point of contact) to visitors, families, and the campus community, providing non-emergency information.
• In the absence of a Lead or a Supervisor, Communications Officers will serve as a CTO (Communication Training Officer) for all new hires, and be responsible to observe & provide training material, and write the new hire’s DOR (Daily Observation Report) each day. This report will be tied to their 6-month review to end the probation period.
• Provide alternative transportation information when normal services are not available.
• Possibility of having to testify for grand jury hearings and other court related appointments for criminal trials as needed.
• Communications Officer will be knowledgeable about matters as related to high education including FERPA, Title IX , CLERY, Etc

Requirements:

• High school diploma or GED
• Experience involving:
  • Dealing with the public in a high stress environment.
  • Ability to type.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.
• Must pass department background check to adhere to State and Government regulations.
• Must successfully complete a pre-employment psychological evaluation before official hire date
• Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) certification as outlined in Chapter 24, Article 6, and Section 5 of the State Code of West Virginia within six (6) months of hire.
• National Criminal Information System Certification within six (6) months of hire.
• First Aid Certification with six (6) months.
• Red Cross or American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certification within six (6) months.
• Field Training: COs will receive 12 weeks of on-the-job training. During this time, they learn physical layout of the campus as well as the specific duties of a CO.
• FEMA NIMs Incident Management training within six (6) months of hire.
• PCI Merchant Training within six (6) months of hire.
• Maintain confidentiality when exposed to extreme sensitive material.