Telecommunication Officer [Dispatcher]
About The Position
The Telecommunication Officer (Dispatcher) performs skilled emergency-services work for the Freeport Police Department. The position receives emergency 911 and non-emergency requests for police assistance, determines the nature and urgency of calls, initiates responses by police or other emergency personnel, and stays in contact with field units to monitor their response and support needs. The work calls for initiative and independent judgment within established procedures, including responding to people who may be emotional, disturbed, or abusive. Officers may work independently or with other Telecommunication Officers and may assist with training and basic operational equipment management. The role involves rotating shifts to maintain a 24-hour facility and may require overtime or extended hours when necessary. The employee must maintain confidentiality, follow departmental policies and procedures, and provide dependable service while working under pressure and amid distractions. Candidates must pass a drug analysis test and physical exam and successfully complete a background check.
Requirements
- High school diploma or GED.
- At least 18 years of age.
- Valid driver's license and good driving record.
- Complete the Basic Telecommunications Course within six months of employment.
- Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with the public, supervisors, and coworkers.
- Problem-solving, observational, teamwork, writing, basic mathematics, computer, and self-management skills.
- Maturity, levelheadedness, honesty, intelligence, cooperation, courtesy, and dependability.
- Knowledge of city ordinances, departmental standard operating procedures and regulations, public service activity and local government methods, computer technology and equipment, law-enforcement terminology and procedures, Freeport-area geography, and English spelling and word usage.
- Ability to multitask and coordinate simultaneous mental, manual, and visual activities; observe situations analytically and objectively; relay details accurately; use two-way radio and telephone equipment; operate communications equipment; interpret maps for locations and jurisdictional boundaries; speak clearly and concisely; think clearly and act quickly in emergencies; and establish effective working relationships with Police Department personnel, city employees, outside law-enforcement agencies, and the public.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment, evaluate situations, make sound decisions, give and receive verbal and written instructions, and meet attendance requirements dependably and consistently.
- Ability to perform work requiring good physical condition.
- Ability to lift objects weighing at least 50 pounds and to bend, stoop, crawl, stand, and walk for extended periods.
- Ability to work under pressure with numerous distractions while maintaining ethics and public-service skills in adverse circumstances.
- Pass a drug analysis test and physical exam, and successfully complete a background check.
Responsibilities
- Receive and respond to emergency and non-emergency calls, including enhanced 911 calls, from the public, dispatchers, and law enforcement agencies using telephone, radio, and computer-aided dispatch systems.
- Evaluate and process information, prioritize calls, and dispatch the required units or agencies.
- Monitor and coordinate police unit activity and assignments over police radio frequencies.
- Maintain the status and locations of public safety personnel.
- Use computers, radio systems, telephones, fax machines, and other communications equipment.
- Create and maintain automated or manual logs of public safety communications activity.
- Access and enter sensitive information in local, state, and national databases as needed for investigative purposes.
- Enter and maintain files for persons or property pending apprehension or recovery.
- Maintain the security and confidentiality of information encountered or created while performing assigned duties.
- Keep informed of departmental regulations, policies, and procedures.
- Assist with on-the-job training for Telecommunications Officers and submit trainee progress reports and evaluations when assigned.
- Perform other tasks assigned by the supervisor and work extended hours when necessary.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
