Dispatch - Emergency Communications Specialist

City of La Vergne Human Resources • La Vergne, TN

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Join the heartbeat of La Vergne’s public safety team. As an Emergency Communication Specialist, you are the first voice our community hears in a crisis, and we invest in you with benefits and career stability few agencies can match. Under the direct supervision of the Emergency Communication Manager, this non-sworn position is responsible for specialized, highly skilled telephone and radio communications work of greater than average difficulty. Dispatchers are responsible for providing citizens and the Police and Fire Departments of the City of La Vergne with the highest level and quality of service in the operations associated with a Public Safety Communications Center and an Enhanced 911 (E-911) Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). The department is staffed and operational on a 365-day-per-year, twenty-four (24) hour-per-day basis. This is a "mission-critical" and Safety-Sensitive position. Based on the La Vergne Police Department selection standards, the following items are immediate disqualifiers: Conviction of any criminal offense classified as a misdemeanor under Tennessee law within three (3) years prior to application and/or a conviction of two (2) or more misdemeanor offenses under Tennessee law as an adult. Admission of having committed any act amounting to a felony under Tennessee law as an adult within five (5) years prior to application. Admission of any act of domestic violence as defined by law, committed as an adult. Admission of any criminal act against children. Having been disciplined by any employer (including military) as an adult for abuse of leave, gross insubordination, dereliction of duty, or persistent failure to follow established policies and regulations. Being involuntarily dismissed (for any reason other than lay-off) from three (3) or more employers as an adult. Resigning from any three (3) paid positions (as an adult) without notice, except where the presence of a hostile work environment is alleged. Any use or possession of a drug classified as a hallucinogenic (LSD) within ten (10) years prior to application; Any use or possession of marijuana within one (1) year prior to application; Any other illegal use or possession of a drug not mentioned above (including cocaine and LSD) within five (5) years prior to application. Failure to divulge to the department any information about personal illegal use or possession of drugs. Any unlawful use or possession of a drug classified as an anabolic steroid or human growth hormone (HGH) within two (2) years prior to application.

Requirements

• Must be a minimum of eighteen (18) years of age.
• Must possess 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.
• All applicants will have an in-depth background investigation conducted by the LPD Criminal Investigation Division, and have no history of any felony arrest, nor have been convicted of or pled guilty to, or entered a plea of nolo contendere to any charge, or to any violation of any Federal or State laws or city ordinances relating to force, violence, theft, dishonesty, gambling, liquor or controlled substances; nor to any misdemeanor arrest involving moral turpitude; and no arrest for D.U.I. in the prior ten (10) years.
• Must pass a physical examination by a licensed physician.
• Must pass a polygraph by a certified polygraph examiner.
• Must pass a psychological evaluation, free from any impairment, as outlined in the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) of the American Psychiatric Association at the time of the examination, that would, in the professional judgment of the examiner, affect the person’s ability to perform an essential function of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must possess a valid Tennessee driver’s license or be able to obtain one in a reasonable period.
• Must be willing to attend training in TIES/NCIC and other Criminal Justice Information System functions and pass all required tests with a minimum of 80%.
• Must abide by and understand all items listed in the job summary related to immediate disqualifiers.
• Must be physically able to operate various automated office machines, including a computer, printer, fax machine, copier, calculator, telephone, radio transmitting equipment, etc.
• Must be able to move or carry objects or materials.
• Must be able to exert up to twenty pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to ten pounds of force frequently.
• Requires the ability to compare and or judge the readily observable functional, technical, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, or things.
• Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange technical and administrative information related to law enforcement, emergency medical, and radio codes. Includes giving assignments and/or directions to co-workers or assistants.
• Requires the ability to read various informational documentation, directions, instructions, and methods and procedures related to the job of Emergency Communications Specialists.
• Requires writing reports with proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar, using all parts of speech.
• Requires the ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control, and confidence using correct English and a well-modulated voice.
• Requires the ability to learn and understand basic to complex principles and techniques; to make independent judgments in the absence of supervision; to acquire knowledge of topics related to the job of Emergency Communications Specialists.
• Requires the ability to record and deliver information to supervisors and officials; to explain procedures and policies; and to follow verbal and written instructions, guidelines, and objectives.
• Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas, add and subtract totals, multiply and divide, determine percentages, calculate time and weight, and apply statistical inference.
• Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape, visually, with office equipment.
• Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes in using automated office equipment.
• Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, including office equipment, control knobs, and switches.
• Must be able to use one hand for twisting or turning motions while coordinating the other hand with different activities.
• Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
• Requires the ability to differentiate colors and shades of color.
• Requires the ability to deal with people (i.e., staff, supervisors, the public, and officials) beyond giving and receiving instructions, such as in interpreting departmental policies and procedures.
• Must be adaptable to performing under considerable stress when confronted with an emergency related to the job of Emergency Communications Specialist.
• Requires the ability to talk and/or hear (talking - expressing or exchanging ideas through spoken words). (Hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear).

Nice To Haves

• A minimum of two (2) years of college courses (at least 64 semester hours) is preferred.
• Experience in a law enforcement, fire, or EMS Dispatch function, or an E-911 PSAP answering function is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Answers incoming emergency and non-emergency calls for law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services and obtains required information for a safe, efficient emergency response of all required public safety agencies.
• Quickly and accurately enters all incident information into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD).
• Operates all radio consoles and equipment, providing appropriate command, control, and support information to public safety responders.
• Dispatches law enforcement and fire personnel, adhering to established policies and procedures and APCO standards.
• Tracks and documents the status of personnel and equipment
• Provides self-help pre-arrival instructions to callers with established priority dispatch protocols.
• Answers non-emergency and administrative calls for service, obtains pertinent information from the caller, and responds to requests for information, or makes referrals as appropriate.
• Performs records and information access on various highly secure law enforcement databases, both internal and external.
• Operates multiple line telephone systems that receive 911 calls and non-emergency calls, interviews the callers to determine the exact nature of the call, obtains all information needed, and then must quickly and accurately classify the call and determine the priority and type(s) of response required.
• Must always provide excellent customer service to the public departmental personnel.
• Must be able to explain ordinances, laws, policies, and procedures concerning reporting complaints, violations of laws, reporting of crimes, and general information of a law enforcement nature.
• Appropriately deals with citizens who may be angry, upset, and/or distraught, utilizing conflict resolution skills, tact, and empathy without violating laws, rules, or departmental policy.
• Operates and accesses the T.B.I. Tennessee Information and Enforcement System (TIES), the Tennessee Crime Information Center (TCIC) computer systems, and the F.B.I. National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computer systems and several other local, state, and federal databases for law enforcement purposes.
• Enters stolen articles, vehicles, weapons, and other stolen items into the TCIC and NCIC, as well as searches these databases to determine if items have been entered into these databases.
• Collects and enters into the TCIC and NCIC information on AMBER ALERTS, endangered children and persons, SILVER ALERTS, et cetera.
• Dispatchers must be able to obtain address information and GPS mapping locations and give the proper directions to responding emergency and public safety responders.
• Must assist during community events, community informational events, and other such occurrences by directing people to the appropriate area, answering questions, and providing written information.
• This position involves regular shift work necessary to provide emergency communications services to police, fire, other emergency services, and the public 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• Shifts are typically 12 hours but may be extended during an emergency, disaster, personnel shortage, workload, or work-in-progress.
• Personnel in this position are also subject to scheduling on a day off to meet staffing requirements due to workload, and more than 28,000 Calls-For-Service per year.
• Maintains various electronic and manual files, logs, forms, dispatch-related information, teletype messages, TCIC/NCIC entries reports, and other files and records according to local, state, and federal guidelines.
• Each Specialist must complete the training required by the APCO, TBI, and FBI, as well as state and federal law and guidelines, and refresh their certifications annually through regular re-training and re-certification classes.
• Maintains awareness of surrounding activities involving other personnel in the Emergency Communication Center, and provides appropriate back-up when necessary.
• Performs operator troubleshooting and maintenance of console equipment and workstation furniture.
• Participates in special projects and assignments directly related to the center's mission operations and/or maintenance.
• Performs other duties as directed or as the situation dictates.
• Receives and processes 911 and administrative phone lines in Communications.
• Dispatch appropriate equipment on calls received for police and fire.
• Operates the radio to communicate with police/fire units.
• Operates the Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, logging information related to events.
• Ability to monitor and track police/fire units geographically.
• Locate streets, parks, public places & landmarks throughout the city.
• Communicates with towing services, utility crews, etc., as needed.
• Responds to routine requests for information or assistance from members of the staff, the public, or other individuals.
• Assign incident and arrest identification numbers.
• Prepares and/or generates routine reports, logs, directories, forms, and other documents.
• Ability to keep sensitive information confidential.
• Performs basic computer maintenance tasks.
• Monitor closed-circuit security cameras.
• Monitor the weather radar system to activate the severe weather alert system accurately.
• Monitor the NCIC system for all pertinent incoming messages.
• Ability to use knowledge of various software programs to operate a computer effectively and efficiently.

Benefits

• 100% Paid Insurance for you and your family — health, dental, vision, life, disability, and even Lasik coverage.
• Secure Retirement: 401(a) with 4.5% city contribution plus a 457 plan with matching up to 3.5%, vested immediately.
• Generous Paid Time Off: vacation, sick, personal days, 12 holidays, and your birthday off.
• Longevity Pay & Incentives: annual service bonuses and ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Growth & Support: comprehensive APCO, TBI, and FBI training, with continual re-certification and career path advancement inside the La Vergne Police Department.

What This Job Offers

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