Public Safety Communications Officer

The Charlottesville-UVA-Albemarle County Emergency Communications Center (ECC)

Full-Time or Part-Time, 12 months
Non-Exempt, Public Safety Pay-scale
Benefits-Eligible

The Emergency Communications Center (ECC) provides all emergency communications services for Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville, and the University of Virginia. The ECC receives all 9-1-1 calls in the area and serves as the central dispatch for the three local police departments, three rescue squads and fire calls. The ECC is a nationally recognized center, having earned CALEA Accreditation as well as being designated as an APCO National Certified Training Program and Virginia Accredited Emergency Medical Dispatch Communications Center.

The Public Safety Communications Officer (PSCO) is a skilled communications professional, performing work that is core to the health, safety, and well-being of our communities. As the “first, first responder”, the PSCO receives, processes, dispatches, and manages emergency and non-emergency requests for service from the public, law enforcement, and fire/rescue communities in a fast-paced, technology-rich environment.

The PSCO is assigned to work at the Charlottesville-UVA-Albemarle County Emergency Communications Center (ECC), a consolidated primary public safety answering point which provides emergency communications services for Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville, and the University of Virginia. The ECC receives all 9‑1‑1 calls in the area and serves as the central dispatch for all regional law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies.

The ECC is a nationally recognized center, having earned CALEA Accreditation as well as being designated as an APCO National Certified Training Program and Virginia Accredited Emergency Medical Dispatch Communications Center. The PSCO exercises judgement in establishing response priorities, while directing and coordinating field responders. The PSCO anticipates community and responder needs to ensure effective utilization of available resources. The PSCO is often called to triage and manage incidents, providing care to people in emergency situations, until field responders arrive on scene, and performing 9‑1‑1 telecommunications work under frequently stressful and emotionally challenging conditions.

• PSCO‑I (Call-taking) – A 9‑1‑1 telecommunicator who receives and processes emergent and non-emergent requests for assistance originating from telephone calls, text messages, videos, and other methods, providing pre‑arrival and post‑dispatch instructions.
• PSCO‑II (Call‑taking/Dispatch) – A 9‑1‑1 telecommunicator who dispatches for one assigned area of focus (law enforcement or fire/EMS), in addition to call taking;
• PSCO‑III (Call‑taking/Multi‑Disciplinary Dispatch) – A 9‑1‑1 telecommunicator who dispatches and manages system status of all disciplines (police, fire/EMS, and others), in addition to call taking.

Essential functions and responsibilities of Public Safety Communications Officer include, but are not limited to, the following:

• PSCO‑I (Call‑taking):
  • Receives emergency and non‑emergency requests for service by telephone, text message, video, or other methods and determines appropriate response according to location and nature of problem and procedures of the department(s).
  • Provides pre‑arrival and post‑dispatch instructions.
  • Provides information to callers when in‑person response by police, fire, or rescue agency is not warranted.
  • Transfers calls to Poison Control Center, surrounding jurisdictions' Emergency Communications Centers, or 9‑8‑8/Mental Health Crisis Centers; monitors transferred telephone calls to ensure pick‑up and appropriate response.
  • Operates and enters information into the computer aided dispatch system.
  • Places outgoing calls to partner agencies to coordinate emergency and non‑emergency response.
  • Completes required monthly training to ensure special procedures are reviewed with supervision.
  • Operates other related equipment,…