Public Safety Telecommunicator - Entry

Salary : $79,860.00 - $97,152.00 Annually
Location : Public Safety Building, 8701 160th Ave NE, Redmond, WA
Job Type: Regular, Full-time
Job Number: 2400087
Department: Police
Division: POLICE
Opening Date: 03/25/2025


JOIN REDMOND!


If you are interested in taking 911 calls, managing a public safety two-way radio system, and you are looking to join an amazing team, then the Redmond Police Department has an opportunity for you!

STEPS TO APPLY for Entry Level Candidates: New applicants are first required to apply at Applicants who have completed Public Safety Testing requirements, including Applicant Profile and Personal History Statement, please click the "Apply" button to submit a City of Redmond application.


Our Public Safety Telecommunicators save lives. In this role, you are providing timely and accurate emergency communications services for Redmond Police and contract agencies. Dispatchers answer emergency and non-emergency phone lines and coordinate radio dispatch and response of police units.

Why work for the Redmond Police Department?
More than anything, our people make us great. Our people bring unique skills and qualities to the table, and we all embrace the values of integrity, accountability, and commitment to service. We also care about our jobs, the work we do for the community of Redmond, and for each other. In fact, we love working collaboratively to take our City to even greater heights.


That spirits creates a purpose-driven culture at Redmond Police that is the biggest reason why people not only choose to work for Redmond but also stay. Where some agencies experience high turnover in the communications departments, the average tenure of our staff is twelve years, with half our team having worked for us for more than ten years! That is in part due to our commitment to look out for one another and support our team, especially considering the nature of the work we do.


Finally, if those aren't already good reasons, then we'd like you to know that we offer a work-life friendly rotating schedule that ensures you will always have some weekends and weekdays off to rest, spend time with family and friends, or just have fun.

ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Answers emergency and non-emergency calls for service and simultaneously enters this information into the computer using a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) System
• Calms, negotiates, advises, and provides instructions to callers to obtain accurate and essential information necessary to establish priority and initiate a timely response to emergency calls while providing excellent customer service.
• Dispatch police units as appropriate via a trunked radio system; anticipate problems and respond to units as necessary.
• Continually updates information as it is received, enters computer and updates units as to new information or instructions including follow up and updated status of calls.
• Manage multiple calls at a time while prioritizing them for response.

A Public Safety Telecommunicator also requires:

Skill in:

• Ability to filter and process multiple, sometimes competing, sources of information.
• Ability to accurately capture, retain and relay verbal information using English clearly.
• Possess an excellent vocabulary and verbally communicate rapidly.
• Type 35 words per minute while conversing with callers.
• Discern several conversations simultaneously, disseminate appropriate information, prioritize actions and respond in an effective manner.
• Articulate in a clear, concise manner, disseminating complete and accurate information in a logical and timely basis both orally and in writing.
• Condense and organize large amounts of information into readable, sensibly typed remarks in a timely manner and

Ability to:

• Be available for shift work encompassing 24-hour day, seven-day week; inclusive of days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Remember numerous details and quickly re-call essential information.
• Consistently think clearly and respond quickly in a wide variety of emergency situations.
• Deal effectively with people in a multi-cultural society under extremely stressful situations.
• Quickly perform multiple time-sensitive tasks in response to visual and sound stimuli with a high degree of accuracy
• Be a team player and establish good working relationships; maintain self-control under stressful circumstances.

Automatic Disqualifiers :
The City of Redmond Police Department will automatically disqualify any individual who has at any time:

• Been convicted of a felony (or pled nolo contendere to a felony charge) or any offense that would be a felony if committed in Washington State or has been incarcerated for any crime.
• Sold narcotics or dangerous drugs.
• All illegal drug use will be closely scrutinized on a case-by-case basis.
• Had a pattern of abusing prescription medication.
• Been dishonorably discharged from the United States armed forces.
• Received more than two moving traffic violations within the preceding 3 years; or reckless driving violation within the preceding 5 years; or driving while license suspended within the preceding 5 years; or driving while intoxicated within the preceding five years.
• Been involved in more than one motor vehicle accident within the preceding 3 years for which the applicant received a criminal citation and was convicted, forfeited bail, or entered a plea of "guilty" or "nolo contendere."
• Been previously employed as a law enforcement agent and since has committed or violated federal, state or city laws pertaining to criminal activity.
• Committed any serious violation of Federal, State, City or County laws.
• Lied during any stage of the hiring process.
• Falsified his or her personal history questionnaire or application or failed to disclose pertinent information.
• Been convicted of any crime under a domestic violence statue.
• Unlawful sexual misconduct.

Discretionary Disqualifiers :
The following disqualifiers may, upon review by the Redmond Police Department, make you ineligible to become a City of Redmond Emergency Communications Specialist.

• Alcohol or substance misuse and/or abuse.
• Excessive traffic violations.
• Commission of a felony.
• A demonstrated unwillingness to honor fiscal contracts or just debts.
• Any other conduct or pattern of conduct that would tend to disrupt, diminish, or otherwise jeopardize public trust in the law enforcement profession.

Physical Demands
Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Majority of tasks are done while seated at a workstation for extended periods of time. Shift rotations occur to cover 24-hour days, seven days a week, weekends & holidays. Work mandated overtime hours as necessary. Frequent and repetitive use of telephone & radio communications equipment.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or G.E.D.
• Two (2) years of experience working in a high volume or high stress environment that required prioritization and problem solving under pressure, preferred.

Licenses and Certificates:

• Washington State Patrol's ACCESS certification must be completed within 6 months of hire.
• Telecommunicator Level 1 & 2 and CTO certification must be completed within 12 months of hire.

Other:
This class description describes the general nature of the work performed, representative duties as well as the typical qualifications needed for acceptable performance. It is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the job.

Please review the job description for more information about the knowledge, skills, abilities, working conditions, and physical requirements.

Selection Process:

• All applicants will be notified of their application status.
• Top candidates will be contacted to participate in the next phase of selection process, which may include testing and/or an interview.
• Note, the City may review existing application pools to fill this position or use this pool to fill future vacancies.
• Additionally, new hires relocating to the area are required to have Washington State residency within 30 days of their start date to comply payroll tax purposes.

BENEFITS


Our employees earn competitive wages and enjoy an exceptional benefits package that includes:

• MEDICAL INSURANCE - Choice of two plans for employees and their eligible dependents: Premera or Kaiser Permanente. All employee healthcare premiums paid for by the City of Redmond.
• PRESCRIPTION DRUG INSURANCE - Included with each medical plan
• DENTAL INSURANCE - For employees and their eligible dependents
• VISION INSURANCE - For employees and their eligible dependents
• OTHER INSURANCE - Life, accidental death & dismemberment insurance, short and long-term disability, optional employee-paid voluntary life insurance
• FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS - For tax savings on healthcare and dependent care expenses
• PAID VACATION & HOLIDAYS - with (13) paid holidays per year
• EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)
• RETIREMENT PLANS - Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) plus additional options that include: Municipal Employees Benefit Trust (Social Security replacement plan) and MetLife 457 Plan
• Annual COLA adjustments
• Annual merit increases of up to 5%

To learn about benefits at the City of Redmond, please visit C2MB (ajg.com)
Please visit to learn about benefits at the City of Redmond
Benefit rates are subject to change without notice due to federal and state mandates and contractual changes as applicable.
01


Please select your highest level of education.

• High School or GED
• Associate degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree or higher

02


Have you completed your Public Safety Testing requirements on publicsafetytesting.com?

• Yes
• No

03


Do you have experience working as a telecommunicator/dispatcher in a police, fire, or emergency medical dispatch facility?

• Yes
• No

04


Please provide the name(s) of the 911, computer-aided dispatch programs you have experience working with:
05


Are you willing to work rotating shifts (day, swing, and graveyard) weekends and holidays?

• Yes
• No

06


Are you willing to work mandatory overtime assignments as required?

• Yes
• No

07


Why are you interested in being an Emergency Communications Dispatcher for City of Redmond?
Required Question