Police Telecommunicator - Reserve

Primary Reason Why Classification Exists

To perform routine telecommunications work in receiving and processing emergency and non-emergency calls for the police department.

An employee in this class is responsible for receiving service calls from the public, prioritizing calls, dispatching appropriate public safety officials, and maintaining open lines of communication with public safety during emergency situations. Emphasis of the work is on taking emergency calls from citizens or businesses, data entry into emergency CAD dispatch consoles, providing information and referral to the public, and communicating with police and fire officials during emergencies.

The employee must have the ability to handle multiple situations at a time and the ability to make decisions quickly under stressful situations. Work is supervised by a shift supervisor or law enforcement officer. Work is evaluated on the basis of handling calls according to defined protocols, personal observation, review of tapes, and feedback from public safety personnel and the general public.

• Knowledge of the operation and use of computer aided dispatching equipment
• Knowledge of FCC communications signals in lieu of voice traffic
• Knowledge of various support manuals and resources such as call books, HAZMAT manual, tactical dispatch manual, and other standard operating procedural manuals
• Some knowledge of current telecommunications practices and procedures as well as practices and procedures used in the police and fire departments
• Some knowledge of city geography and street locations
• Ability to manage multiple situations at once under stressful conditions
• Ability to operate a computer terminal, telephones, radios, computer-aided dispatch (CAD) consoles; ability to sit for long periods of time in lo