Public Safety Telecommunicator - Entry Level

Public Safety Telecommunicator

This critical role serves as the vital communications link between the public needing help and emergency services response. As members of the public safety ecosystem, Public Safety Telecommunicators are typically the first point of contact when a person reaches out for help. This entails a candidate to be able to work independently in a high-stress environment while receiving and evaluating incoming emergency and administrative requests for emergency services; triaging those requests for service; providing guidance and assistance to the public in life-safety situations; and coordinating appropriate responses to high-risk, high-stress operations, with the objective of keeping all participants safe.

Oro Valley Police Department (OVPD) is accepting applications for Public Safety Telecommunicator. Interested applicants are REQUIRED to complete an on-line application. Once complete, the applicant will receive an email from Guardian Alliance Technologies within five business days. The email will include a sign-on and instructions on establishing a secure online account. This account will serve the purpose of collecting information and documents required for the personal history questionnaire. Qualified applicants will be provided information on the location and time of the computerized pre-hire test. If you have any specific questions about the position or the process, please contact Mitch Olive at View phone number on click.appcast.io or View email address on click.appcast.io.

The Public Safety Telecommunicator process includes completion of the personal history questionnaire, a computerized pre-hire test and an oral interview. Also included in the hiring process are the following: Polygraph Exam, Drug Screen, Psychological Exam, Medical Exam.

Disqualification standards include: Participation in any serious crime, any misdemeanor conviction involving narcotics, drugs, marijuana which OVPD in its sole discretion deems serious, excessive or inappropriate, not having been convicted of domestic violence since the age of 18, any illegal use of opiate narcotics, hallucinogens, and/or other dangerous drugs which OVPD in its sole discretion deems serious, excessive or inappropriate, any history of disregard for traffic laws with such frequency so as to indicate disrespect for traffic laws and a disregard for the safety of other persons on the highway, negligence in maintaining financial responsibility, and failure to follow application & background instructions.

This position is skilled emergency service work that involves receiving emergency 911 and non-emergency requests for police assistance, determining nature/urgency of calls, initiating police or other emergency personnel action and maintaining close contact with field units to monitor response and needed support requirements. The position of Public Safety Telecommunicator requires a considerable degree of initiative and independent judgment within procedural boundaries in responding to emotional, disturbed and sometimes abusive people in a variety of situations. Work may be done separately or in conjunction with other Public Safety Telecommunicators. Public Safety Telecommunicators may assist in training, teaching and basic operational equipment management. The position of Public Safety Telecommunicator requires rotating shift assignments and overtime in accordance with maintaining a fully operational 24 hour facility.

Essential Functions

• Receives and responds to emergency and non-emergency calls including enhanced 911, and non-emergency calls from the public, dispatchers, and law enforcement agencies via telephone and radio systems and computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems.
• Processes and evaluates information received, prioritizes calls and dispatches required units and/or agencies.
• Monitors and coordinates police unit activity and assignments via police radio frequencies.
• Maintains status and locations of public safety personnel.
• Operates a sophisticated workstation comprised of multiple computer systems, computer-aided dispatch (CAD) software and geographical information systems (GIS), state and federal clearinghouses, call handling including teletypewriter (TTY) and text-to-911 sessions, as well as communications systems such as radio dispatch consoles and recording systems.
• Creates and maintains automated or manual logs of public safety communications activity.
• Accesses and enters sensitive data in local/state/national databases as necessary for investigative purposes.
• Enters and maintains files for persons or property pending apprehension/recovery.
• Maintains appropriate security and confidentiality of information created or encountered in the performance of assigned duties.
• Keeps informed of departmental regulations, policies and procedures.
• May assist in providing on-the-job training for Public Safety Telecommunicators and submit progress reports and evaluations on trainees.

Essential Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge of applicable Town, state and Federal statutes, rules, ordinances, codes, regulations governing dispatching.
• Knowledge of Town and Department policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of law enforcement records keeping activities and techniques.
• Ability to operate computers and related communication equipment utilizing a variety of software and operating systems/applications.
• Skill in quick decision making and correcting emergency situations.
• Skill in assessing, analyzing, identifying and implementing solutions to complex problems.
• Ability to follow verbal and written communication.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Minimum Qualifications

• A high school diploma or GED.
• Must be 18 years or older.
• Successfully complete background investigation.
• Must be able to work on a rotating schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays to ensure 24/7 coverage.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain the following licenses and certifications within six months of hire date. - Basic Telecommunicator Course - Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security Training - CJIS Terminal Operator Certificate

Environmental Factors and Working Conditions

• Work is performed in an indoor environment.

The Town of Oro Valley is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. The Town does not discriminate in the provision of employment opportunities, benefits or privileges; create discriminatory work conditions; or use discriminatory evaluative standards in employment if the basis of that discriminatory treatment is, in whole or in part, the person's race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability status, gender, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, genetic information or marital status.