Police Communications Operator

Operates central Police Communication control receiving, screening, relaying routine and emergency requests for police services. Maintains and operates the Police telecommunications center.

Employees in this class are responsible for carrying out two‑way communications with law enforcement personnel utilizing the facilities of a microwave central communications network. Work involves the screening of requests for routine and emergency requests for police services and relaying that information to police personnel in the field. Employees must be trained in emergency response to in‑progress and medical emergency calls in order to dispatch those units appropriate for the situation.

Duties include performance of responsible public contact work and providing reliable information both general in nature and regarding persons involved in criminal activities.

Employees are responsible for monitoring and operating a nation‑wide police telecommunications system and ensuring that messages received and entered are accurate and timely and in accordance with Federal Communications Commission procedures. Considerable care and judgment must be exercised when supplying information through these systems. Information transmitted must be accurate and released only to authorized personnel. Employees also maintain complex records and files to facilitate police operations.

Procedural methods and policies and general methods of work are standardized in accordance with established police procedures. Supervision is received from a Communications Supervisor who reviews all work for conformance with proper procedures.

• Receives incoming calls for police services and dispatches police units including dispatches to disturbances, crime scenes, accidents, or similar incidents;
• Monitors police radio communications;
• Keeps records of all police units available, calls dispatched and related information;
• Maintains a command sheet listing the availability of all on‑duty and off‑regular duty units;
• Receives and responds to requests for instructions and information from field personnel;
• Performs rapid records checks in response to officers in the field;
• Searches records for possible criminal history for subjects and pulls criminal history records;
• Responds to information requests at the counter from the public and other law enforcement officials;
• Writes and completes police incident reports and supplemental reports when necessary;
• Monitors the police telecommunications networks through MDPD, FCIC and NCIC, transmitting and receiving messages to various agencies nationwide;
• Ensures proper message entries, cancellations, and queries into the telecommunications systems for missing persons, stolen vehicles, tags, guns, boats, and all other items reported to the police;
• Ensures proper responses to administrative messages, and validation updates through the telecommunications systems;
• Receives and makes referrals to requests for assistance to agencies other than police‑related incidents.

• Performs work on various PC's involving input and retrieval of data;
• Uses microphone for Police dispatch;
• Uses FCC monitored radio and Metro Dade County standards multi‑telephone;
• Sits for lengthy periods of time;
• Duties performed in a limited workspace.

High school diploma or GED (proof required at time of application), plus some clerical and telephone experience, preferably in a police department.

Must work flexible hours and rotating shifts, including morning, afternoon, and midnight shifts and holidays.

Those candidates claiming North Miami residence preference points must present proof at the time of application.

NOTE: Must be fluent in English both verbal and written. Preference will be given to candidates with additional verbal communication skills in Creole, French and/or Spanish.

Experience dealing with the public and computer data entry, clerical and telephone experience preferably in a police department is desired.

Written examination – general knowledge and ability, Weight – 100%.

• Oral Directions Test
• Clerical Skills
• Public Relations Skills
• Interpretation of oral and written…