Emergency Communications Officer

Join the Thin Gold Line

Every emergency begins with a voice on the other end of the line.

As an Emergency Communications Officer with the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, you are the critical link between the public and first responders. You will answer emergency and non-emergency calls, coordinate police, fire, and EMS resources, and provide life-saving instructions to callers during their most challenging moments.

This is more than a job—it is a career dedicated to public service, teamwork, and making a difference in your community every day.

Starting Pay & Benefits $29.23 - $38.45 per hour DOE (Includes $0.50 shift differential)

Outstanding Benefits Include:

• Public Employees Retirement System of Idaho (PERSI)
• Five-year vesting
• 11.96% employer contribution
• Lifetime retirement benefit
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Free employee and dependent access to a county medical clinic offering:
• Primary care appointments
• Medications
• Laboratory services
• And more
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility for qualified employees
• Paid training and professional development
• Career advancement opportunities

What You'll Do

• Remain calm and help others stay calm during emergency situations
• Answer emergency and non-emergency calls for service
• Assess incidents and determine appropriate response priorities
• Dispatch law enforcement, fire, EMS, and other emergency resources
• Provide CPR and emergency medical instructions before responders arrive
• Utilize advanced computer-aided dispatch systems and multiple databases
• Monitor responder status and officer safety
• Maintain accurate records and documentation for legal and public information purposes

Professional Training Provided

• APCO Public Safety Telecommunicator I
• Idaho POST Basic Dispatch Academy
• ILETS Level I & II Certification
• APCO Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD)
• Amber Alert Certification
• Emergency Alert System Certification
• TDD Certification
• CPR Certification
• National Incident Management System (NIMS)
• Incident Command System (ICS)

Minimum Qualifications

• Possess a High School Diploma or GED
• Have at least three months of work experience
• Possess or be able to obtain a valid driver's license
• Be insurable
• Demonstrate keyboarding proficiency of 3,321 keystrokes per hour
• Successfully complete the Emergency Communications Officer Course within eighteen (18) months of hire

Schedule Requirements

Emergency communications is a 24-hour operation. Shift work is required and is not optional. Applicants must be available to work days, nights, weekends, holidays, and other assigned shifts as needed.

What We Look For

• Integrity and honesty
• Professionalism
• Strong communication skills
• Sound judgment under pressure
• Teamwork and adaptability
• Commitment to public service

Truthfulness throughout the application and background process is essential. Omissions, inaccuracies, or misrepresentations may result in disqualification.

Our Community:

Located in beautiful North Idaho, Kootenai County is home to more than 171,000 residents and offers an exceptional quality of life. Surrounded by mountains, forests, and more than twenty lakes, the area provides year-round recreational opportunities while maintaining a strong sense of community and public service.

Hiring Process

• Application Review
• Skills Assessment
• Oral Board Interview
• Polygraph Examination
• Psychological Evaluation
• Medical Examination (when applicable)
• Pre-Employment Drug Testing
• Sheriff's Office Background Investigation

Contact Us

KCSO Recruiting Team View email address on click.appcast.io

Marcia Heglie Personnel Administrator View phone number on click.appcast.io View email address on click.appcast.io