Public Safety Dispatcher

Job Description

The Public Safety Dispatcher I is an entry-level position at the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD), responsible for managing emergency and non-emergency service calls across the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) service area. This role involves coordinating with police, fire departments, and other entities, providing critical information in real time, and ensuring safety during emergencies.

Education

• High School diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED).

Experience

• Minimum of two (2) years of public safety dispatching, including 6 months of call taking experience in a public safety environment or two (2) consecutive years of call taking experience in a public safety environment.

Certification/Licensure

• National Crime Information Center Certification – bi-annual re-certification (Federal)
• Maryland Electronic Telecommunication Enforcement Resource System (METERS)
• Washington Area Law Enforcement System (WALES)
• Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN)
• Certified Training Officer (CTO) through Association Public Safety Communication Officials (APCO) — re-certification bi-annually with 12 continuing Dispatch Education credits per year
• Basic Dispatch Certification through Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
• All certifications above must be maintained while in the job.

Other Requirements

• Candidate must have never been convicted of a felony or serious misdemeanor.
• Candidate must pass an extensive background check.
• May be required to work variable shifts as needed, at times during inclement weather, and when necessary, work extended tours of duty without notice.

Medical Group

Satisfactorily complete the medical examination for this position, if required. The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of this position either with or without reasonable accommodations.

Mission Essential Designation

• In accordance with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority's Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) this job has been identified as critical to mission essential functions. Incumbents in this role may be required to report to or continue to work in the event of authorized office closings or service suspensions due to severe weather, natural disaster, fire, operational emergencies or related events.

The Public Safety Dispatcher I is the entry level role in the Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) emergency communications center managing all emergency and non-emergency service calls for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) service area. This role receives information via radio/telephone relating to emergency and non-emergency service calls and is required to coordinate with jurisdictional police and fire departments, making appropriate notifications, and providing all retrieved information to applicable entities.

The incumbent is expected to make measured decisions in real time during critical life‑safety incidents, while identifying and mitigating public safety needs.

• Receives, responds to, and processes all emergency and non‑emergency calls.
• Responds to emergency and non‑emergency calls for service. Determines the appropriate police, fire, emergency services or WMATA department response. Queries callers to gather specific and vital details of a situation in a timely manner and maintains contact with the caller or appropriate jurisdictional police agency as needed and relays the information received from the caller.
• Operates communications console equipment to expedite calls received in the MTPD Communications Division which operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, including special events, holidays and during weather/public safety emergencies which the public can access.
• Provides callers with customer support and acknowledges WMATA customer complaints, inquiries, and recommendations for WMATA during non‑business hours, which may or may not be police related to provide accurate and reliable information for both internal and external partners.
• Maintains communication with the caller or appropriate jurisdictional police agency to ensure accurate transfer of information that was…