Communications Specialist

Summary

Join the King County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) Communications Team as a 911 Communications Specialist (911 Call Receiver). KCSO is seeking individuals with a desire to serve the community and who possess exceptional customer service and communication skills. A career as a 911 Communications Specialist offers an outstanding opportunity to directly impact lives by making a difference in critical moments. You will play a crucial role in improving the quality of life within our community.

The King County Sheriff’s Office Communications Team handles calls from unincorporated King County, twelve cities, Metro Transit Police, King County Airport Police, and King County Animal Control. Over half a million people rely on our Communications Specialists and other KCSO personnel. This position is open to the public, and this recruitment will establish an employment list (valid for one year) to fill current and future vacancies within the Sheriff's Office.

As a Communications Specialist you will:

• Use telephones and radios to provide critical information and communicate directly with callers and Deputies in the field.
• Handle law enforcement calls only; requests for fire or EMS assistance are immediately transferred to other agencies.

• Receive, prioritize, and route emergency and non-emergency calls from the public and other agencies.
• Gather information from calling parties and enter the type, location, and all required information for emergency calls into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) System, routing calls to the correct Dispatcher or appropriate emergency agency.
• Assign response priority by determining whether immediate response could save lives or prevent crimes, and relay pertinent information via radio.
• Retrieve information from State and National networks regarding wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, restraining orders, and criminal histories; relay information to Deputies via radio.
• Record information and maintain required logs and event cards.
• Manage multiple radio frequencies and communications simultaneously.
• Communicate effectively with confused, upset, hostile, or distraught people by phone while gathering information necessary to send the correct responders and equipment to the scene.
• Communication center employees may hear and need to respond to graphic descriptions of violence and/or injury.

• Manage uncertainty and adapt while simultaneously receiving emergency calls.
• Act calmly, quickly, and accurately in a variety of emergency situations.
• Multi-task complex, fluctuating situations within short periods.
• Learn quickly and understand basic law‑enforcement and emergency‑management terminology.
• Make quality decisions using knowledge and judgment; evaluate problems and apply sound judgment in high‑stress, critical‑incident environments.
• Instill trust within the organization and community; interact with the public pleasantly and courteously, demonstrating integrity and core values.
• Communicate effectively; remain calm and professional when questioning callers with limited English proficiency or who are verbally abusive, emotionally upset, uncooperative, or frightened.
• Write clearly with correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Maintain interpersonal effectiveness; build relationships with employees, law‑enforcement personnel, and the public.
• Show resilience; exhibit composure during high‑pressure situations and engage in self‑care to manage stress.
• Possess basic computer skills.
• Work overtime on regularly scheduled workdays as required.
• Work a 24‑hour, 7‑day schedule (including holidays and weekends) and be willing to work any shift or workweek, including overtime, as assigned.
• After 18 months, Call Receivers may be eligible for additional training to advance to Communications Specialist – Dispatcher.

911 Call Receiver: $36.21 – $43.77 hourly

911 Dispatcher (eligible after 18 months): $45.90 – $50.47 hourly

• U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or DACA recipient.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.
• At least 18 years of age.
• Pass the 911…