Emergency Telecommunications Dispatcher

WESTFIELD REGIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS DISPATCHER GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Position’s main responsibility is as dispatcher and call taker of emergency and non-emergency incidents for both the City of Westfield and the Town of Southwick; administrative and technical work in receiving and dispatching routine and emergency information; keeping official records; assisting in the administration of the standard operating procedures of the Communications Center providing 24 hour, seven day a week service for Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services;

and performing data entry and other Public Safety administrative duties.

Works under the supervision of the Communications Center Administrator and subject to limitations imposed by the Westfield and Southwick Police and/or Fire Chiefs. Position requires an ability to work independently and on own initiative, as well as an effective member of a team with professional and reasonable judgment in making decisions in all functions of the job while following all set protocols and procedures of job and maintenance of Communications Center.

May receive direction in complex situations from Police, Fire, and/or Emergency Medical personnel or other Mutual Aid Agencies.

• Receives emergency and non-emergency radio and telephone transmissions in the Communications Center for two communities; answers all incoming calls on recorded lines in a professional and courteous manner; ascertains nature of calls, gathers all necessary information to relay to appropriate responders with a focus on responder safety, and prioritizes calls based upon their nature and time factors.
• Dispatches and manages the deployment of Police, Fire and Emergency Medical personnel and response vehicles in their respective communities for emergency and non-emergency incidents; broadcasts nature, location and time of incident; contacts all required personnel; provides supplemental information; contacts and coordinates personnel call backs and Mutual Aid responses.
• Provides emergency medical instructions to callers; provides pertinent information to responding units by phone and/or radio; coordinates first responder, ambulance and Advanced Life Support intercept.
• Monitors alarm systems; maintains accurate information; dispatches units and contacts responsible parties when necessary. Maintains accurate documentation on the location, safety, and status of personnel and apparatus; maintains on-going contact with responding personnel and keeps them informed of all pertinent information; keeps track of various information such as traffic lights out and streets closed and keeps emergency personnel informed.
• Maintains Communications Center work area and equipment in clean and working condition; performs janitorial functions in work area as needed.
• Operates radios and handles radio communications on multiple frequencies; operates office equipment as required; pages personnel as outlined by policy.
• Retrieves information from the CJIS/LEAPS/NCIC computer system in regards to criminal records; warrants, missing persons, and other functions as required and under the terms set forth by the Criminal History Systems Board; retrieves information from the RMV computer in regards to motor vehicle operators licenses, registrations and other functions as required and under the terms set forth by the Criminal History Systems Board.
• Enters and retrieves a variety of data and extracts required data from computer and other information systems; maintains reports and records as required or requested per departmental standards.
• Knows the Communications Center’s jurisdictional authority in relation to all agencies served; maintains thorough knowledge of the streets and neighborhoods of Westfield and Southwick; maintains a working knowledge of surrounding communities.
• Knows the Communications Center’s policies and procedures; keeps abreast and complies with all Communications Center guidelines, directives, announcements, special orders, policies and procedures.
• Broadcasts pertinent weather bulletins, civil defense bulletins,…