911 Dispatcher​/Telecommunicator

The Shelby County Emergency Management Communications District (Shelby County 911) is looking for positive, professional, mature, enthusiastic, flexible, and responsible individuals to become 911 Telecommunicators.

Our Telecommunicators perform a variety of telephone and computer aided operational duties including 911 call taking and dispatching of law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services. We also assist the public with routine non-emergency and business-related calls.

For those with a focused interest in public safety, you will find this a great entry to a rewarding career in emergency communications. This is an excellent opportunity to make a difference in someone's life and the community while partnering with our men and women in the field.

911 Telecommunicators serve as calltakers and dispatchers. As a new Telecommunicator, you will receive classroom and hands-on training to answer both 911 emergency calls and routine non-emergency calls in a communications center. In one call, you will offer life‑saving support to a citizen in need and in the next, handle a routine referral to a public safety agency. You will learn to answer complex emergency calls, use appropriate de‑escalation techniques, and develop interviewing skills to gather necessary information for first responders in the field.

You may also have the opportunity to train as a dispatcher working directly with responding patrol units; using radios, telephones, and computer systems to provide information and support to law enforcement officers and fire fighters in the field.

To be successful, you must be fast to respond with direct and correct decisions, able to take charge of conversations, able to obtain accurate information from callers, enter information into a computer system while talking, correctly prioritize emergencies, determine the appropriate units to send to calls, and maintain accurate records.

Rarely do individuals have the opportunity to be the calm in someone's storm on a daily basis. Each day your calm voice, professional demeanor and specialized training will allow you to assist individuals who may truly be having the worst day of their lives.

Make the difference in someone's life, become a 911 Telecommunicator with Shelby County 911.