Public Safety Emergency Dispatcher I

Bowie, MD
Prince George's County

Salary: $47,177.00 Annually

Closing Date: 10/31/2024

Position Summary:

Public Safety Emergency Dispatcher I incumbents must have the tolerance to work under pressure. Work is performed inside a secured, windowless office environment with a specialized low-light system and includes prolonged periods of sitting at a designated workstation monitoring computer screens and entering data. There is limited opportunity for physical movement; rest and meal periods are dependent on workload. Incumbents must be able to perform the following: reaching, fingering, grasping, hearing/listening, seeing/observing, and repetitive motions. Vision abilities required for this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus; the ability to see with or without corrective lenses, and well enough to read standard text and text displayed on a video display terminal. Work may require constant focus on a computer screen for two or more hours at a time.

Essential Functions:

  • Dispatch Police Officers, Deputy Sheriffs, and/or Fire/EMS units to respond to calls for assistance which are of a routine or emergency nature.
  • Provide special instructions, hazard information, and additional information as appropriate or as requested by Police Officers, Deputy Sheriffs, or Fire/EMS personnel.
  • Follow guidelines on how to enter information for broadcast to law enforcement officers throughout the County; operate a workstation comprised of multiple computer systems including Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) 9-1-1 emergency and non-emergency telephone system, geographical mapping tools (GIS and aerial photography), Computer Aided Dispatch, and other repositories for critical information to answer, triage and process incoming emergency and non-emergency calls for service.
  • Initiate calls for service utilizing appropriate protocols, provides pre-arrival instructions including CPR instructions, when appropriate.
  • Receive incoming requests for emergency and non-emergency assistance, determine the type of service(s) required and initiate calls for service in accordance with emergency dispatch protocols and PSC, Sheriff, Police, Fire/ EMS, other public safety agencies’ policy.
  • Receive calls via the radio, 9-1-1 system, or telephone while using an issued headset or other computer-based communication equipment and process/record pertinent information according to agency procedures and protocol and, performs job duties at the alternate 9-1-1 center if activated or during tests/drills.

Requirements:

  • High school diploma or G.E.D. required.
  • One (1) year of responsible work experience as an emergency or non-emergency dispatcher/call center operator, public safety officer, security, military or healthcare services, or relevant work experience using a two-way radio OR experience as a Public Safety Emergency Call Taker II with Prince George’s County Government.
  • Candidates must successfully pass agency-specified entrance examination.