Public Safety Telecommunicator

Job Title

Job Description

Salary Range: $48,921.60-$56,872.40 annually, depending on knowledge and experience. Minimum preparation for work:

• Graduation from high school or equivalent; and
• One (1) year of experience in customer service, healthcare, call centers, emergency dispatch, or as an Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic, Firefighter, Police Officer, or an Air Traffic Controller, or any equivalent combination or related training and experience in one of these fields.
• Or combination of education, training, and/or work experience equal to or higher than the requirements listed above as determined by Human Resources.

Necessary special requirements:

• State of Florida, Department of Health, Public Safety Telecommunicator Certification within one (1) year of the date of employment or promotion into this classification.
• State of Florida, Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) NCIC/FCIC System certification within 30 days of employment.
• Certification for State of Florida, Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles (DAVID) NIMS/FEMA Training
• Completion of Basic Life Support and AED training within in 30 days of employment.
• Possession of an appropriate driver license for equipment operated and any license, training or certification required by law or regulation to complete assigned tasks.
• You must pass the Pensacola Police Public Safety Telecommunicator Assessment Exam (with a minimum of 80%). This exam is administered once application passes minimum requirement screening.

Nature of work:

This is highly responsible, specialized work involving the receiving, screening, prioritizing, and transmission of emergency 9-1-1 calls, information, and messages; and in dispatching police and/or fire personnel and equipment. An employee in this class operates computerized emergency communications equipment and maintains an orderly flow of communications between the base of operations and the field. Work is performed according to departmental rules, regulations, and procedures. An employee in this class is expected to exercise judgment and initiative in determining the seriousness and response priority of each situation, and in effectively dealing with other agencies, employees, and the public. Work is reviewed by observation, the monitoring of employee operations, and the analysis of reports and records. Employee must be available to work rotating and/or permanent shifts.

Examples of work:

• Receives and answers enhanced 911 calls from citizens needing Police, Fire or EMS in order to provide emergency assistance.
• Answers administrative lines from citizens, ring downs from other law enforcement agencies, and public utilities in support of emergency communication operations.
• Enters responses into the CAD (Computer Aided-Dispatch) system while following nationally recognized protocols such as verifying location, identifying nature of service and contact with other emergency services, i.e. Fire and or EMS.
• Provide quick response from Police or Fire for the citizens of Pensacola, while citizens and their property are safe.
• Assigns complaints to Police and Fire officers, and maintains current status of officers.
• Monitors radio channels and alarms.
• Operates NCIC/FCIC system for inquiries regarding persons, vehicles, boats and articles.
• Performs paging and/or calling of specialized units.
• Operates teletype and other office machines
• Provides non-emergency support for the officers and citizens by providing assistance such as obtaining wreckers, coordinating traffic light repairs, tree removal, street sign replacement and road blockage for safety.
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Knowledge in the operating characteristics of the communications equipment used in the system.
• Knowledge of the functions, procedures, policies, and regulations of the Police and Fire Departments.
• Knowledge of the geography of the city.
• Knowledge of proper radio procedures and protocol.
• Knowledge of public safety information systems (i.e. Mach Alerting, NCIC/FCIC, DAVID).
• Knowledge of law enforcement methods and procedures.
• Ability to elicit information necessary for proper dispatching.
• Ability to assess situations and make fast, accurate decisions.
• Ability to speak clearly, distinctly, politely, and remain calm.
• Ability to prioritize.
• Ability to multi-task and utilize multi-functional skills.
• Ability to think and act clearly, quickly, and calmly in emergency and non-emergency situations.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to communicate, interpret, and enter required data into a computer terminal with accuracy and speed.
• Ability to write legibly.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates and the general public.
• Ability to transcribe information from verbal communication.
• Skilled in keyboarding.
• Skilled in the use of computer aided dispatch systems.
• Skilled in the use of telecommunications systems.
• Skilled in the operation of radio transmitting and receiving equipment.

Mental and physical requirements:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to hold or feel, reach with hands and arms, walk, talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, sit, climb, balance, stoop, and crouch. Specific vision abilities include near distance, far distance, color and peripheral vision, and depth perception.

Work environment:

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Some jobs may require an employee to be exposed to outside weather conditions, wet and/or humid conditions. Applicant must be willing to work nights, weekends, holidays and shift-work.