Telecommunicator / 911 Communications

Cook County•Chicago, IL

1d•$75,125 - $107,106•Onsite

About The Position

Starting pay for this position is $75,125 with a top off pay of $107,106. The Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department Emergency Communications Center, located in Des Plaines, Illinois is seeking applicants for the position of Telecommunicator. The center continues to rapidly grow as additional agencies are consolidated into the Cook County ETSB. The service population is 375,000 residents and expected to grow to 450,000 residents by the end of 2026. The Emergency Communications Center is multi-jurisdictional operation that receives and dispatches police only for service in Cook County, as well as Metra rail lines located in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kenosha (WI), Lake, McHenry and Will counties. The center is a high activity environment that processes over 2,100 phone calls a day. The Telecommunicator position supports a twenty-four (24) hour, seven (7) days a week, where applicants must have the ability to work rotating shifts that include weekends and holidays. Telecommunicators are responsible for answering Emergency 911 and non-emergency calls for all unincorporated areas of Cook County, as well as assisting those jurisdictions that do not have Emergency 911 systems or contract dispatch agencies. Telecommunicators enter all emergency data into the Premier One Computer Aided Dispatch (P1 CAD) system. The Telecommunicator, from the information received, determines the nature of the call (police, fire, EMS, or other emergency) and assigns its priority using designated codes and dispatches the appropriate beat car to the scene using the radio and P1 CAD system. Telecommunicators are responsible for entering, retrieving and accurately interpreting information contained in the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (L.E.A.D.S.) and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system and for responding to public works, utilities, and community service calls for assistance and/or repair. Qualified candidates will be placed on an eligibility list. Telecommunicators receive an excellent benefit package and ongoing training opportunities. View our recruitment video at https://www.cookcountysheriffil.gov/departments/cook-county-e-911/careers/

Requirements

Possession of a High School Diploma or General Education Development (G.E.D.) test certificate.
As of the date of application, candidates must have reached their 19th birthday.
Must be capable of working up to twelve (12) hours at a time, continuously wearing a communications headset that will cover one (1) ear or fit within the ear canal of an ear, while retaining the ability to hear and understand other outside sound sources not coming to this ear piece; ability to read and discern visual images on a variety of media; ability to remain seated at the same workstation for up to twelve (12) hours at a time, while maintaining the ability to type accurately on a computer keyboard, all while conversing with callers.
Typing skills (30 w.p.m. with 90%25 accuracy), familiarity with computer keyboards and data inputting, clearly legible handwriting and proficiency in spelling.
Must successfully pass written examination(s).
Must successfully pass an oral interview panel.
Must successfully pass a hearing and vision test. Must successfully pass background investigation(s).
Must meet all unit requirements to the satisfaction of the Director of Communications within the contracted three hundred and sixty-five (365) day probationary period.
Must possess the ability and willingness to work any or all assigned shifts of a twenty-four (24) hour day period and be available to emergency call-in; overlapping of shifts and/or overtime may be required.
Must successfully obtain certification from the State of Illinois as a Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS) Operator within ninety (90) days of hire and maintain current certification throughout course of employment.
In addition to fully completing an application and meeting all noted minimum requirements, all applicants MUST successfully complete testing offered.

Nice To Haves

One (1) or more years of professional, full-time work experience as a 9-1-1 police dispatcher in the last 3 years.
One (1) or more years of professional work experience in the use of the Premier One Computer- Aided Dispatch (P1 CAD) system.
Possession of valid Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS) certification.
One (1) or more years of professional, full time work experience in a multijurisdictional 9-1-1 Center.
Completion or current enrollment in a Public Safety Communications course resulting in obtaining a vocational training certificate.

Responsibilities

Enters all emergency data into a Premier-One Computer Aided Dispatch (P1 CAD) system.
Receives information and requests for additional personnel or equipment from field units; informs field units of potential threats, risk, and hazards, such as involvement of weapons, hazardous materials, or violent subjects.
Dispatches, via radio or telephone, emergency and other calls for service to the proper police agencies and units; always maintains strict radio discipline; complies with Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) regulations; department policies and procedures in the transmission of all radio traffic; maintains radio communications with department units to aid and coordinate operations.
Assists with the maintenance of records, maps and all communications equipment and performs administrative, clerical tasks and data entry and retrieval essential to the efficient operation of the communications center.
Cancels, Confirms, Enters, Locates, Modifies and Validates records into the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS) and/or the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system. Responsible for adhering to LEADS policies.
May assist in the on-the-job training of new Telecommunicators personnel, and/or assist or relieve other Telecommunicators, as required.
Keeps informed of County ordinances, Department Policies, State Statutes, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and other law enforcement related information/documents.
Maintains and cares for communications console station and related equipment.
May be required to review transcripts and/or tape recordings related to the investigation of complaints/calls for service and may be required to testify in court.

Benefits

Health Insurance Program – Health insurance coverage includes medical, dental and vision care and is available for an employee and his/her eligible dependents.
Holidays – Thirteen (13) Holidays are granted in each Fiscal Year. Employees who are active at the beginning of the fiscal year (December 1st) also qualify for a floating holiday.
Sick Leave – Granted sick leave is earned and accrued at the rate of one (1) day for each month of service and may be accumulated up to one hundred and seventy-five (175) working days.
Vacation Leave – Granted Vacation leave is earned and accrued, with employees having the opportunity to accrue fifteen (15) days within the Fiscal Year; Vacation leave accruals increase based on an employee’s anniversary date of employment.
Life Insurance – Basic term life insurance, equal to one (1) time the employee’s annual salary, is offered to every employee at no cost and the employee may elect to purchase supplemental coverage.
Pension Plan – Employees contribute into the Cook County Pension Fund and earn a prescribed percentage for each year of service; employees may be eligible for an annual annuity after ten (10) years of service and upon reaching a certain age based on when the employee started employment.
Deferred Compensation Program – Employees may elect to enroll in a deferred compensation plan, a tax deferred plan which may be used as a supplemental retirement option.

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