Police Communications Operator

As a Police Communications Operator with the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), you will be part of a mission-driven organization that supports public safety every day. This role works at the center of a fast-paced environment to ensure quick, accurate, and dependable communication during emergencies and for routine calls.

This position is responsible for answering calls from the general public and county 911 operators regarding emergency and non-emergency police issues. It focuses on receiving, relaying, and maintaining vital information to help coordinate public safety responses and support statewide law enforcement operations. As a Police Communications Operator (PCO) for the Pennsylvania State Police, you will:

• Call Handling: Receive calls and question callers to gather details, determine response requirements, and assign relative priorities of incidents
• Incident Response: Dispatch, relay incident information, and communicate with Troopers and other PCOs regarding active incidents or concerns through radio, telephone, and computer systems
• Interagency Coordination: Contact municipal police, fire, ambulance, towing, PennDOT, and other services to provide incident details and request assistance and response
• Record Management: Utilize confidential databases to access, research, and maintain records; establish and maintain incident information in electronic record management systems
• Public Assistance: Respond to administrative inquiries and help visitors by offering information or arranging for a Trooper to meet them

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

• Full-time employment, 40 hours per week
• Work hours to be determined. Your schedule will include rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays, with a 30-minute lunch.
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.

• Two years of experience using two-way radio, multi-line telephone, or computer aided dispatch systems;
  or
• Two years of experience using computer systems for entering, updating, and retrieving information;
  or
• Completion of 60 college credits;
  or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training.

• You must possess a clear, firm voice and no major speech, hearing, or visual impairments that would interfere with understanding verbal communication, being understood, or using electronic communications equipment and visual display equipment.
• You must obtain an active Public Safety Telecommunicator certification issued by the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials within the probationary period and maintain the same for the duration of employment in this job.
• You must obtain active Commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Network (CLEAN) and Pennsylvania Justice Network (JNET) certifications issued by the Pennsylvania State Police within the probationary period and maintain the same for the duration of employment in this job.

• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

• This job title has been identified as performing critical duties. Prior to placement in this job title, the selected candidate regardless of their current job, must submit a Report of Medications for screening by the State Police Medical Officer.
• You must pass a background investigation and meet Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) compliance requirements.

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about…