Public Safety Telecommunicator III

Salary $32.31 - $46.07/hour; $5,600.40 - $7,985.47/month; $67,204.80 - $95,825.60/year

This is beginning level communications work. Bargaining unit position.

An employee in this class is responsible for performing a variety of public safety communications tasks. Depending on assignment, employees might be receiving and screening incoming communications from citizens, dispatching units over a two-way radio, or participating in the training of lower level communications personnel. Under general supervision, employees’ work rotating shifts, which include nights, weekends, and holidays. Activities are of more than average difficulty and require that the employees be capable of responding quickly and rationally to emergency situations.

Reasonable initiative and independent judgments are required in receiving and transmitting information some of which is highly confidential. An important aspect of this work is obtaining the most accurate and complete information possible from irate and distraught individuals who call for assistance. Work is reviewed through evaluations, observation, and records of actions taken.

Answer emergency (9-1-1) and non-emergency telephone lines obtaining information, prioritizing and confirming the location of calls as well as making independent determination of appropriate action for processing all incoming calls for service, to include relaying pertinent information to the appropriate public safety response unit (police, fire, and/or emergency medical services/EMS) or providing callers with the appropriate advice or referral.

Operate and monitor two-way radio channels, computer aided display (CAD) monitors and other related sophisticated communications equipment systems, while efficiently gathering, prioritizing, and documenting caller information.

Process complaints and make appropriate referrals on a broad variety of public safety matters, that often require referring to or memorizing detailed reference materials and standard operating procedures, including databases, maps, telephone listings, and other resources.

Summarize critical information for public safety first responders in the computer aided dispatch system using correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and refer and classify calls for police/fire/EMS assistance according to the level of response required.

Receive requests by phone or electronic format from law enforcement, fire/medical personnel, and other public safety agencies to access, enter, retrieve, and disseminate data utilizing local, state and national database systems; prioritize and effectively relay information in proper format to requesting agency. Contact outside public service divisions as requested and relay information as required.

Provide unified command communications and support for major incidents both at Communications and by integrating into the mobile command post structure during extended tactical situations such as TRT activations, planned major events, and unplanned critical incidents.

Subject expertise may include, but is not limited to, the matters of Criminal Justice Information Systems, Training, Audio Records Management, Real-Time Crime Center, Tactical Dispatching, or as a participating member of the Florida Telecommunicator Emergency Response Team.

Answers telephone complaints and requests pertaining to police, fire, or other emergency services; directs complaints to proper agencies when problems are not of an emergency nature.

Determines if a police unit should be dispatched to a scene for an investigation in order to facilitate prompt referral of a case; determines the jurisdiction in which the incident occurred.

Operates two-way radio dispatching equipment to assign calls to units; maintains records on complaints including type of service required, location and identification of persons, time of dispatch, time  out of service , and subsequent  return to service  of vehicles.

Responds to requests for information from the general public and representatives of other agencies; responds to public inquiries and/or complaints in order to share information; calls wrecker per unit(s) requests to…