Public Safety Communications Dispatcher

Overview

Responsible for answering all incoming emergency 911 calls using a computer-aided dispatch system to assist police, firefighters, paramedics, animal services officers, and administrative lines. Provides pre-arrival medical instructions to callers and supports dispatch operations.

• Answers incoming 911, TTY emergency, and non-emergency calls. Prioritizes calls and determines proper routing utilizing established guidelines and operating procedures.
• Assigns calls and report numbers.
• Dispatches animal services officers, police officers, firefighters, and ambulance services to calls for service.
• Evaluates information to determine jurisdiction, equipment, and personnel to be dispatched.
• Confirms warrants for internal and external agencies.
• Monitors multiple radio channels and dispatches appropriate public safety personnel.
• Ensures dispatch of officer requests for back-up or traffic-related assistance.
• Provides pre-arrival instructions for emergency medical calls and relays vital information to hospital emergency rooms when necessary.
• Maintains an accurate status of each officer on patrol, firefighters, EMS, and animal services personnel, including times in and out of service and locations.
• Documents all 800 MHz radio transmissions.
• Runs wanted and/or stolen checks through the National and Texas computer systems for outstanding warrants or other information; confirms and relays information to originating officers.
• Inputs and monitors teletype information, protective orders, and missing person reports from applicable regional, state, and national databases.
• Sends teletypes, entering, clearing, canceling, and validating computer entries.
• Obtains a variety of information for officers and/or applicable external police agencies (driver’s license information, criminal histories, property information, and/or other related information).
• Maintains familiarity with major streets, public buildings, industrial plants, and the general geographic layout of the City of Denton, Texas, including reading and understanding maps.
• Maintains regular and punctual on-site attendance.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

• High School diploma or GED equivalent.
• Must be able to type at least 40 words per minute corrected.

• Any combination of related education, experience, certifications, and licenses that will result in a candidate successfully performing the essential functions of the job.

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to form and maintain effective relationships with coworkers and customers.

• Bilingual in Spanish and English.
• Prior experience as a Telecommunicator in a Law Enforcement Center.

• Must pass a drug test, credit history check, criminal history background check, and social security number verification check.
• Must pass the Criti Call Skills Assessment.
• Must attend and successfully complete in-service training schools.
• Must obtain NCIC Telecommunicator Certification, Emergency Medical Dispatch Certification, TCIC/NCIC Certification and TCOLE Certification within one (1) year of employment.
• Must have no Class A or Class B misdemeanor convictions in the past (10) years.
• Must have no felony convictions.
• Must pass polygraph exam, psychological exam, and credit check.
• Must pass a hearing test.
• Must pass a typing test with 40 words per minute corrected.
• Must meet civilian hiring standards of the Denton Police Department.
• A personal history statement must be submitted with each application.
• Must be able to work rotating shifts, nights, weekends, and holidays.

• Sedentary – lifting no more than 10 pounds.
• Light – lifting no more than 20 pounds; carrying up to 10 pounds.
• Medium – lifting no more than 50 pounds; carrying up to 25 pounds.
• Heavy – lifting no more than 100 pounds; carrying up to 50 pounds.
• Very Heavy – lifting more than 100 pounds; carrying more than 50 pounds.

Y = Yes, N = No, E = extensive (100‑70%), M = moderate (60‑30%), I = infrequent (20‑10%), A = almost never (