Emergency Communications Officer

Position Summary

Performs intermediate telecommunications work under frequent stressful conditions. Work is in the receipt of emergency and non-emergency calls for service from the public, law enforcement, and fire and rescue communities, as well as maintenance of radio communications with same emergency units. Extensive training is completed during initial months of employment, followed by a period of close supervision until a degree of proficiency is demonstrated in each phase of work. After the training period is completed, work is performed under regular supervision.


Essential Job Functions

• Receive, classify, process and dispatch emergency service calls; receive, record and forward non-emergency service calls; prepare and maintain records and files; prepare reports
• Receive, screen, process and monitor emergency 911 calls from the public and other police/public safety agencies by radio and telephone; evaluate, categorize and prioritize calls; determine location of incidents and confirm jurisdiction of requests
• Gather, analyze, and report critical information during life-or-death situations such as crimes in progress, medical emergencies, and fire/rescue incidents
• Dispatch appropriate agency personnel to incident locations; determine nature of emergency, type of responder needed, number of units needed and nearest available units; dispatch law enforcement units, fire fighters, ambulances, wreckers, breathalyzer operators, VDOT, utility crews or others as appropriate; coordinate services/actions with other fire/rescue and law enforcement agencies
• Operate telephones, communications equipment and computers associated with police, fire, rescue and emergency medical communications; operate general office equipment such as a typewriter, printer, copy machine, facsimile machine, shredder or calculator
• Manage communications of emergency personnel responding to incidents and assisting with incident operations during events such as active shooter and officer down responses; monitor status/location of responding emergency units; assist emergency personnel in locating addresses; provide pre-arrival medical instructions as appropriate; convey information between callers and emergency personnel, general public, public safety agencies, utilities, businesses, alarm companies, department personnel or other individuals/agencies; respond to requests from officers for backup, emergency units, information or other assistance; notify hospitals of major accidents
• Respond to non-emergency calls from the public or other individuals; direct callers to various agencies as appropriate; take/relay messages for department employees or other departments; pages various county personnel as needed
• Respond to requests from authorized individuals for license plate, driver's license, missing/wanted person, criminal history, warrant, location of individual, stolen property, telephone number, or other information
• Operate teletype terminals on NCIC/VCIN networks; monitor VCIN computer; provide information to deputies; input and retrieve a variety of data
• Administer care by providing pre-arrival medical instruction or directing callers through procedures such as CPR, childbirth, or controlling of blood loss while emergency medical services are enroute
• Enter warrants issued by numerous jurisdictions into system; enter incident reports completed by officers or investigators; enter all information pertaining to report
• Enter or clears stolen property and wanted or missing subjects into VCIN and NCIC systems, requests criminal histories
• Perform general cleaning/maintenance tasks associated with maintaining work areas
• Perform related tasks as required

Note: This is not an exhaustive list of duties. The County reserves the right to modify job duties or assign additional responsibilities as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or GED
• Experience: any amount of relevant experience may be considered
• Certifications/Licenses: Any certifications or training listed in the Special Qualifications section already completed is preferred
• Other: See Special Qualifications section

Special Qualifications

• Ability to satisfactorily complete, obtain & maintain:
  1. In-house Public Safety Communication Officer Training Program
  2. The Department of Criminal Justice Basic Dispatcher Academy
  3. Public Safety Telecommunicator I
  4. Fire Service Communications
  5. Active Shooter
  6. Crisis Intervention Training
  7. Virginia Criminal Information Network/National Crime Information Center
  8. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
  9. Incident Command System 100
  10. Incident Command System 200
  11. National Incident Management System 700
  12. Radiological Training at North Anna Power Plant
  13. Emergency Dispatch Certifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• General knowledge of the methods of operating the communications system
• General knowledge of radio and teletype procedures
• General knowledge of the geography of the County and location of important buildings
• Ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to type and enter data at a reasonable rate of speed
• Ability to speak distinctly; ability to solve problems within scope of responsibility
• Ability to deal courteously with the public under stressful conditions
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates and the general public

Working Conditions and Disclaimer

This work is sedentary and requires little to no exertion of force; work regularly requires speaking or hearing and frequently sitting, using hands to finger, handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms and repetitive motions; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to other accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, using of measuring devices and observing general surroundings and activities; work has no exposure to environmental conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office with typewriters and/or computer printers, light traffic).

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performance by employees with this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications as required of employees assigned to this position.


In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Orange County will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.


General Acknowledgement: The employee is expected to comply with all County policies and procedures and to consistently demonstrate adherence through their conduct. As a representative of Orange County, the employee is also expected to serve as a role model by upholding the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in accordance with these policies.


Orange County is an equal opportunity employer. Orange County does not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other protected class as established by law.