Police - Emergency Communications Specialist

City of La Vergne Human Resources • La Vergne, TN

1d • $23 • Onsite

About The Position

The Emergency Communication Specialist is a non-sworn, hourly position in the La Vergne Police Department. Under the direct supervision of the Emergency Communication Manager, the Specialist performs specialized telephone and radio communications work for the City’s Public Safety Communications Center and Enhanced 911 Public Safety Answering Point. The role serves citizens and Police, Fire, and other emergency services, and is designated mission-critical and safety-sensitive. The center operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, handling more than 28,000 calls for service annually.

The Specialist receives and evaluates emergency and non-emergency calls; gathers, classifies, and enters incident information; dispatches and tracks public safety personnel and equipment; provides approved pre-arrival instructions; and accesses secure law-enforcement databases. The position also maintains records and communications logs, supports public and community events, monitors communications-center systems, and performs basic equipment troubleshooting and maintenance. Required APCO, TBI, and FBI training and annual recertification apply.

Work involves regular shift schedules, typically 12 hours, with shifts potentially extended during emergencies, disasters, staffing shortages, heavy workloads, or work in progress. Employees may be scheduled on a day off to meet staffing requirements. Applicants must meet age, education, citizenship, background, testing, examination, and licensing requirements described in the posting, and must abide by the listed immediate disqualifiers.

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must have a high school diploma or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) recognized by the Tennessee Department of Education.
• Must pass the Criticall Public Safety Dispatcher test.
• Must pass an in-depth background investigation and meet the stated criminal-history, conduct, employment-history, and drug-use standards, including the immediate-disqualifier criteria in the posting.
• Must pass a physical examination by a licensed physician.
• Must pass a polygraph examination administered by a certified polygraph examiner.
• Must pass a psychological evaluation meeting the stated job-related standard.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must possess a valid Tennessee driver’s license or be able to obtain one within a reasonable period.
• Must be willing to attend TIES/NCIC and other Criminal Justice Information System training and pass all required tests with a minimum score of 80%.
• Must understand and abide by the immediate-disqualifier standards listed in the job summary.
• Must communicate clearly and accurately by telephone and radio, read and write job-related documentation, and follow verbal and written instructions.
• Must maintain confidentiality of sensitive information and make independent judgments under pressure.
• Must be able to use computers, CAD, telephone and radio systems, databases, and other office equipment effectively.
• Must be able to handle stressful emergency situations and interact appropriately with staff, supervisors, the public, and officials.
• Must be able to exert up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently, move or carry objects or materials, and perform physical demands at the sedentary-work level.
• Must be able to speak and hear, coordinate hands and eyes when using equipment, handle controls and switches, and distinguish colors and shades.

Nice To Haves

• At least two years of college coursework, equivalent to at least 64 semester hours.
• Experience in law-enforcement, fire, or EMS dispatch, or in an E-911 Public Safety Answering Point.

Responsibilities

• Answer emergency and non-emergency calls for law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services, gather required information, and support safe and efficient responses.
• Enter incident information quickly and accurately into the Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.
• Operate radio consoles and related equipment; dispatch police and fire personnel according to policies, procedures, and APCO standards.
• Track and document the status and location of personnel and equipment, including monitoring police and fire units geographically.
• Provide callers with self-help pre-arrival instructions using established priority dispatch protocols.
• Handle administrative and other non-emergency calls, respond to information requests, and make referrals as appropriate.
• Access secure internal and external law-enforcement databases, including TIES, TCIC, and NCIC, for authorized purposes.
• Enter and search records for stolen articles, vehicles, weapons, and other items in TCIC and NCIC; enter information related to AMBER ALERTS, endangered persons, and SILVER ALERTS.
• Obtain address and GPS mapping information and provide directions to responding personnel.
• Provide courteous customer service and communicate information about ordinances, laws, policies, procedures, complaints, violations, and crime reporting.
• Use tact, empathy, and conflict-resolution skills when interacting with angry, upset, or distraught callers while following laws and departmental policy.
• Assist at community and informational events by directing people, answering questions, and providing written information.
• Maintain electronic and manual files, logs, forms, dispatch information, teletype messages, database entries, reports, and other records according to applicable guidelines.
• Complete required APCO, TBI, and FBI training and maintain certifications through regular retraining and annual recertification.
• Monitor activity in the Emergency Communication Center and provide backup to other personnel when necessary.
• Troubleshoot and maintain console equipment and workstation furniture; perform basic computer maintenance tasks.
• Monitor closed-circuit security cameras, weather radar and severe-weather alerts, and pertinent incoming NCIC messages.
• Prepare or generate routine reports, logs, directories, forms, and other documents; assign incident and arrest identification numbers.
• Communicate with towing services, utility crews, staff, the public, and other individuals as needed.
• Participate in special projects and assignments related to center operations or maintenance and perform other duties as directed or as circumstances require.
• Work regular shifts and, when needed, extended shifts or scheduled days off to provide round-the-clock emergency communications coverage.

Benefits

• 100% paid insurance for the employee and family, including health, dental, vision, life, disability, and Lasik coverage.
• 401(a) retirement plan with a 4.5% city contribution.
• 457 retirement plan with matching contributions up to 3.5%; vested immediately.
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and personal days.
• 12 paid holidays and the employee’s birthday off.
• Annual service bonuses and longevity pay.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Comprehensive APCO, TBI, and FBI training, continual recertification, and career-path advancement opportunities within the La Vergne Police Department.

What This Job Offers

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