Communications Officer Pool

Position Summary

The Communications Officer provides ongoing communication support to field units responding to calls and conducting patrols. The Communications Officer is responsible for performing a number of tasks simultaneously while gathering information from often uncooperative and/or emotional callers. The Communications Officer must quickly and effectively calm the caller to obtain necessary information to determine what resources need to be dispatched. The member must be able to take control of situations that may be chaotic, heart-wrenching, stressful, confusing, and frenzied.

Their work within emergency response services often places them in the middle of life-or-death situations, so requirements and training for these positions are often stringent, rigorous, and unwavering. The Communications Officer must stay up to date with the latest technology, policies, procedures, and best practices affecting public safety services. The Communications Officer maintains a calm, professional demeanor while handling a variety of emergency and non-emergency calls.

• Education – High school diploma or GED equivalent
• Minimum 18 years of age
• Valid Driver License
• Type a minimum of 20 words per minute
• Certifications:
  • Obtain State of Florida Safe Telecommunicator Certification within one (1) year of hire
  • Obtain Emergency Medical Dispatch Certification from the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch
  • Obtain Emergency Fire Dispatch Certification from the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch

This list of functions, duties, responsibilities, skills, and physical abilities is not intended to be all-inclusive, and the employer reserves the right to assign additional functions and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

• Receive process or forward all wrecker requests to the designated supervisor.
• Accurately maintain wrecker files.
• Generate communications reports.
• Utilize communications resources to provide inquiring persons correct information.
• Promptly route calls to the proper authority.
• Accurately track, monitor and document all deputies and other members’ activities as required during their tour of duty.
• Dispatches deputies for service calls.
• Provide deputies with updates and additional information as it becomes available.
• Requests and responds to outside agencies’ requests for assistance.
• Completes CAD system entries for service calls.
• Receive requests for watch order checks/extra patrols.
• Accurately complete and submit WO/EP forms by end of shift.
• Correctly discriminate between emergency and non-emergency calls.
• Effectively prioritize calls for service.
• Operate the telephone console/switchboard.
• Ensures the appropriate agency response to the caller or the appropriate members are dispatched to the scene.
• Answer calls in a courteous and professional manner.
• Assist callers as appropriate, determine the nature of a call and transfer the call to the appropriate member.
• Correctly and promptly dispatches appropriate units to calls for service based on priority, location and resource availability.
• Effectively disseminates information received over the National Warning System Terminal from FEMA and the National Weather Service to all appropriate members/agencies.
• Operates NCIC/FCIC computer to standards mandated by state and federal authorities.
• Receive and disseminate accurate information to the authorized members in a timely manner.
• Notifies surrounding agencies of robberies and priority events.
• Maintains accurate and up to date communications/dissemination logs.
• Contact the appropriate entity to verify warrants to ensure they are complete, accurate and still outstanding.
• Notify appropriate personnel of applicable information and properly update records.
• Utilizes the 2-way radio for official communications only.
• Participate in in-house and external trainings to develop specialized knowledge for communications call taking and/or dispatch duties.
• Follow International Academies of Emergency Dispatch for Fire (EFD) and Medical (EMD) interrogations prior to the arrival of the first responders.
• Responds to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles check requests. Correctly retrieves and…