Public Safety Telecommunicator/ 911 Dispatch

Renville County•Olivia, MN

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Public Safety Telecommunicator is required to receive all incoming administrative and emergency calls; notify proper personnel or agencies throughout the county; and/or in the surrounding counties; and if necessary, coordinate emergency responding units. This position is overseen by the Lead Public Safety Telecommunicator/Dispatch Coordinator and under general supervision of the Sheriff. A Public Safety Telecommunicator must rely on independent judgment, training, and policy/procedures to perform all duties necessary either in emergency situations or day to day functions of the Sheriff’s Office. The Public Safety Telecommunicator is required to personally interact with the public and manage stressful situations.

Requirements

Associate degree (A.A.) or equivalent from two-year college or technical school; or one-year related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
Must meet current regulatory requirements for the position.
CJIS certification from MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Certification and re-certification in CPR/First Aid/tCPR.
Training on the state regulated ARMER system and its standards, protocols and procedures.
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure and policy manuals.
Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
Ability to speak effectively before people, on the phone or radio, and over intercoms.
Ability to manage multiple responsibilities at once by focusing on various tasks while keeping track of others. Switching back and forth between tasks and effectively performing different tasks rapidly, in succession or simultaneously.
Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing to establish and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors, emergency service providers, other county and city staff and the general public.
The ability to think quickly and possession of adequate articulation skill.
Ability to use alternate means of communication when dealing with non-English speaking individuals or the hearing impaired.
Ability to calculate figures such as area, circumference and volume.
Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
Ability to read geospatial coordinates and apply to linear mapping systems.
Ability to understand wind speed and direction and effectively communicate the information to other public safety agencies.
Working knowledge of multiple computer environments.
A high level of computer competency with standard data retrieval, record management, and word processing software.
Computer and typing experience required.
Knowledge of Windows, Microsoft Office, Internet, in-house records system; knowledge of the computerized 911-dispach and mapping system, computer aided dispatch system, systems utilized for mass community notification (CodeRed) and various web-based paging platforms utilized for paging emergency responders, as well as alternate paging systems used in times of equipment failure.
Comprehensive knowledge of principles, techniques and practices of the public safety communications system and the general knowledge of police fire and EMS operations.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Ability to use investigate techniques along with a working knowledge of various data bases and social media platforms to obtain information not readily found in a standard data set.
Ability to prioritize the severity of requests for service in the event that simultaneous calls occur. This includes identifying a priority medical call and transferring the caller to the appropriate call center for Emergency Medical Dispatch.
Ability to de-escalate stressful situations.

Responsibilities

Receive and process emergency and non-emergency calls via 911 or other incoming emergency communication systems, administrative phone calls, radio transmissions, alarm panels (fire/panic), PsPORTALS, intercoms, IM/email messages, in person or other means and distribute to proper agency(ies) through the county and surrounding counties. This includes but is not limited to Law Enforcement, Ambulance/Medical Response Units, and Fire Departments; when necessary, direct agencies to the desired locations.
Locate the scene of incidents based on information from the 911 system, information given by the caller in reference to starting point & destination, streets/roads and other geographical landmarks, or other unconventional means. Identify hazards and obstacles relative to the area and advise responding units.
Fields all requests for assistance by the public or public safety partners to the best of their ability; utilizing a resolve or refer to appropriate resource technique.
Maintains exclusive control of all the secure perimeter doors to the jail facility 24/7. Also controls the secure doors of the county office building after hours and on weekends and holidays.
Create and maintain a confidential office environment, utilizing tact, courtesy and good judgment.
Prepare LETG Event reports for the Sheriff’s Office, six police departments, as well as 20 Fire and EMS entities throughout the county. These event reports are to be complete and the status to be updated throughout the course of the incident.
Maintain and update the master name index of agency’s Record Management system with complete biographical and contact information.
Perform pager tests for Fire and EMS according to current protocol.
Maintain current warrant files on all warrants received from court, Department of Corrections and other counties. Notification to Court Administration upon arrest. Send Hit Confirmations to other agencies via PsPORTALS upon contact with a subject of their warrant; then relay that information to officer in contact with the subject. Also receive and confirm Hit Confirmations from other agencies upon their contact with a wanted subject in our county.
Request and receive information via the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) and operate computer terminals linked to the State and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies and is responsible to distribute this information.
Create Hot Files for missing persons, runaway juveniles, and stolen items. Enter the information into the PsPORTALS system. Broadcast informational locally and assist in coordinating search resources when needed. Maintain records until located.
Maintain records on current Orders for Protection (OFPs) and Harassment Restraining Orders and update PsPORTALS upon civil service of these documents to respondents.
Monitor numerous ARMER Radio Talkgroups for Law Enforcement and Emergency Response Agencies. Patch Talkgroups and link assisting agencies together for communication purposes when necessary.
Page necessary emergency response personnel to incidents and maintain contact for safety and accurate record-keeping throughout the incident.
Monitor weather radar, weather messages via PsPORTALS, and communications via radio and phone, operates the Civil Defense Systems sirens to alert cities in case of natural or nuclear disasters. Performs monthly countywide Civil Defense Systems test on the first Wednesday of the month.
Contact Public Works Departments for city and county when needed for emergency situations including storms, floods etc.
Contact Railroad Company when problems occur with their equipment that disrupts traffic.
Contact Water, Electric, Gas companies in emergency situations where their equipment is involved; as well as other various contacts that are needed for a particular incident, including but not limited to Minnesota State Duty Officer, funeral homes, pastors, school custodial personnel etc.
Contact appropriate agency or entity on behalf of those in need of emergency housing and assistance.
Act as a link between responding officers to a death scene and the death investigators through Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office.
Keep status awareness of all officers in the county on duty, on call or off duty. Coordinate backup personnel as required. Issue status checks for safety on responding units. Call for additional officers and equipment as requested by the first respondent or supervisor (or that is believed to be needed by training policy/procedures and experience).
Responsible for the notification to the Sheriff, Chief Deputy, Supervisor or designee of any critical incident that has occurred during the work shift and relay current messages and information to following Public Safety Telecommunicator at shift change.
Observes and monitor surveillance cameras for the County Office Building, Jail, Courthouse and remote cameras utilized for investigative purposes. Responsible for department security and access to the secure areas utilizing video monitors, intercoms, alarms and touchscreen door panel systems (MTI).
Maintain dispatch logs of all transactions during a shift. (Also including logs of lost/found animals, controlled burns etc.)
Keep inventory of necessary dispatch supplies and request replacements supplies from administrative assistants or Lead PST when needed.
Complete a background check on individuals requesting to visit an inmate, enable the video visitation and monitor visits.
Have direct, in-person contact with the public after normal business hours, weekends, and holidays to facilitate collection of bail, receive permit to carry applications or other correspondence.
Run Criminal History Checks via PsPORTALS for requesting officers that are investigating cases; conducting background checks for permit to purchase firearms, conducting background checks for hiring of Law Enforcement personnel etc.
Respond to request for service by citizens at the lobby window in the absence of receptionist personnel, including lunch hour, weekends and holidays.
Act as a resource for contact with Human Services (on call social worker) after 4:30 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. on weekdays, and on weekends and holidays.
Attend seminars, training, conferences relating to specific job duties, as required by Statue, Department of Corrections Standards, MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) or at the direction of the Sheriff or Lead PST.
Keep updated on new techniques, laws, regulations, and standards as they apply to public safety dispatch operations.
Ability to work a rotating schedule which may include days, afternoons, nights, weekends, holidays, some shifts with minimal notice and extended shifts due to weather, emergencies, or other extenuating circumstances/staffing issues.
Acquire knowledge of Renville County geography, incorporated areas, municipalities, roads, streets. Also obtain knowledge of available resources throughout the county including placement of 4 wheelers, lighting equipment, generators, emergency trailer etc. and dispatch those resources where they are needed.
Utilize basic knowledge of Law Enforcement, Fire & EMS procedure and protocols to aid in acquiring necessary resources.
Ability to prioritize, organize, coordinate, and plan the overall program of communications operations and remain calm in all situations.
Testify in court as required.
Act as a Training Officer for all newly hired Public Safety Telecommunicators, as well as assist in training newly hired deputies, PD officers, and correctional officers, as it pertains to dispatch protocol.