Communications Officer - DPS

State of Oklahoma • Durant, OK

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About The Position

Communications Officers operate communication equipment in a Department of Public Safety communications center and provide information to law enforcement officials, other agencies, and the public. This emergency communications position supports 24/7 staffing for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

The work may include operating radio, teletype, and computer systems; receiving and dispatching messages; accessing law-enforcement databases; interpreting and relaying information to field personnel; researching criminal histories; making decisions about incoming information; maintaining logs; and composing and releasing messages about emergencies and other incidents. Depending on the level and assignment, duties may also include planning communications-center operations, coordinating with other divisions and agencies, inspecting centers, developing training materials, participating in personnel screening boards, and monitoring facility security.

Candidates must be at least 18 years old, be U.S. citizens of good moral character, and have a high school diploma or GED. Final candidates will be scheduled for a hearing test before starting. Upon appointment as a Communications Dispatcher, employees serve a 12-month initial probationary period, which may be extended by up to three additional months. Some positions in this job family are safety-sensitive.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen of good moral character and at least 18 years of age.
• Have a high school diploma or General Education Development (GED) equivalency certificate.
• Meet the 24/7 emergency communications-center staffing requirement for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
• Pass a hearing test scheduled by the hiring agency before entry on duty.
• Knowledge of Federal Communications Commission rules and regulations concerning radio communications.
• Knowledge of OLETS, NLETS, and NCIC operating manuals.
• Knowledge of state and federal laws concerning the use of criminal records.
• Knowledge of agency communications policies and procedures, office practices and procedures, and spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
• Ability to operate radio and telecommunications equipment.
• Ability to maintain operating efficiency under emergency and stressful conditions and maintain effective working relationships with others.
• Ability to follow complex written instructions and type accurately from plain copy at 25 words per minute.

Responsibilities

• Operate radio communication equipment and receive and dispatch radio messages on an assigned shift.
• Provide a communications link for field personnel, agency headquarters, law enforcement officials, and related emergency services.
• Operate teletype and computer systems to obtain information through OLETS, NLETS, or NCIC.
• Interpret and relay information about wanted persons, legal violations, and other criminal activity to field personnel.
• Research criminal history information, including available INTERPOL data.
• Make decisions about information received from various sources and disseminate it to field personnel, agency officials, and other law enforcement agencies as appropriate.
• Maintain written records and logs of shift activities.
• Compose and release messages concerning accidents, emergencies, hazardous materials, incidents, weather conditions, and similar situations.
• Depending on assignment, plan and direct communications-center operations and assist with communications policies and procedures.
• Coordinate operational and administrative matters with other divisions and agencies.
• Depending on assignment, inspect communications centers, develop and conduct training, prepare instructional materials, serve on screening boards, represent the agency on terminal-use and security matters, and monitor facility security.

Benefits

• At least 15 days of paid vacation.
• 15 days of sick leave.
• 11 paid holidays each year.
• A comprehensive benefits package, including a benefit allowance to offset insurance premiums for employees and eligible dependents.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED