Public Safety Communications Officer

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Public Safety Communications Officer

Salary

$43,318.00 - $55,945.00 Annually

Location

Winchester, VA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

00476

Department

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS

Opening Date

07/05/2024

• Description

• Benefits

Description

Public Safety Communication Officer Lateral Opportunity

As a Public Safety Communication Officer with Frederick County, Virginia we offer shift differential incentives, Career Development plan, and overtime opportunities!

SUMMARY: Under general supervision, serves in the Department of Public Safety Communications (PSC) on an assigned 12-hour shift as a call-taker, processing 9-1-1 emergency and non-emergency phone calls. Provides pre-arrival instructions for medical emergencies, fire and law enforcement events. Responsible for dispatching those events by radio to the appropriate police, fire and emergency medical services personnel. Tracks those units and provides support functions as needed.

WORK SCHEDULE: Work four (4) consecutive days, equaling to a 42 hour work week

• Schedule (a): First three (3) consecutive days is a 12 hour shift; and then the fourth (4) day is a six (6) hour shift.

• Schedule (b): Initial day (1) is six (6) hour shift, and then the next three (3) days are 12 hour shifts.

Essential Functions

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The requirements for this position include, but are not limited to, those outlined below. All job functions, education and experience, general knowledge and abilities, and physical requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the job. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise. It is the employer’s discretion to add or change the duties or requirements of this position at any time.

• Serves as primary point of contact for reporting all 9-1-1 emergencies and non-emergencies in Frederick County.

• Processes all calls to determine nature of incident, classification, and priority.

• During life-threatening emergencies, establishes communications with the caller, provides safety/life-saving instructions, and maintains control of conversations until units arrive on the scene.

• Relays pertinent information to public safety responders via radio in a concise, organized, and understandable manner, monitors radio traffic and provides immediate information and assistance.

• Works under pressure, exercising good judgment and common sense while making sound decisions in emergency situations. Prioritizes responsibilities based on workload.

• Utilizes the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system to maintain status and awareness of public safety personnel, resources and incidents. Documents CAD as required, and notifies key supervisory and management personnel of critical incidents.

• Accesses and uses other programs required for daily operations – including phone, radio, mapping, recording, security, records and reporting.

• Coordinates with other agencies, citizens, and businesses to gather information, make referrals, or dispatch assistance.

• Conducts computer searches through local, state, and national databases for possibly wanted or missing persons and/or stolen property and interprets and provides information to the requesting public safety personnel. Also confirms such information and enters data in the Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN) as required. Utilizes VCIN to send and receive teletypes.

• Develops and maintains a working knowledge of highways, streets, developments, buildings, landmarks, and major points of interest in Frederick County as well as familiarization with surrounding jurisdictions and boundaries.

• Works with co-workers and emergency responders as a cohesive and supportive team.

• Supports the relationship between PSC and the public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with citizens, responders, and other Frederick County personnel.

• Represents Frederick County and PSC in a professional manner and with a high level of customer service, adhering to PSC, law enforcement and fire & rescue departmental policies and procedures governing the dissemination of information and confidentiality.

• Must be punctual and demonstrate regular work attendance.

• Must be able to work a 12-hour shift (days or nights), including holidays, weekends and inclement weather. Must be able to accept last minute schedule changes including overtime. May be required to work up to 16 hours in emergency situations.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

EDUCATION: High School Diploma or General Educational Development (GED) required.

EXPERIENCE:

• Experience in a public safety related field, dispatch in a call center, and/or customer service environment which required data entry and word processing is required.

• Experience at a comparable emergency communication center that handles non-emergency and 911 phones, uses a CAD system,, and dispatches for police, fire, and rescue services is required.

OTHER KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

The following skills and abilities need to be known or quickly learned within the probationary period:

• Knowledge of the geography of the Frederick County service area including, but not limited to, streets, highways, boundaries, landmarks, businesses, and locations of law enforcement and fire & rescue stations;

• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and under pressure. Closely follow verbal and written instructions and procedures;

• Work as a team while maintaining assigned job responsibilities and duties. Customer service and interpersonal communication skills;

• Computer operation and use of standard and specialized hardware and software to enter information with speed and accuracy;

• Deal tactfully and courteously with the public, handle stressful situations and angry people, and obtain information from hostile and emotional callers;

• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, with an emphasis on accurate spelling and transfer of numbers;

• Listen, understand, and relay information via telephone, radio and in person;

• Remain calm and controlled under stressful periods while projecting a professional demeanor; and,

• Anticipate and adapt to fluctuating workloads.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES AND/OR REGISTRATIONS:

The following certifications must be obtained within the probationary period of one year of employment:

• Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN),

• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and

• Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD).

The following must be obtained within two years of employment:

• Virginia Basic Telecommunicator;

• National Emergency Management Systems (NIMS) 100, 200, 700 and 800; and,

• Certifications must be maintained for continued employment.

Supplemental Information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Work performed is primarily an office classification in a call center/dispatch environment, although occasional standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, to enter, and to retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment; vision to read printed materials and computer screen; hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone and radio. Positions in this classification occasionally (daily, weekly, or monthly) bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees may occasionally be required to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: Employee works in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and minimal direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures. Work is performed in a fast-paced, call center environment. Employee must remain alert and responsive while coordinating stressful situations in a fluid and dynamic work environment. Personnel are required to wear a headset device. Employee will be required to work some combination of weekends, nights, or be on-call as a regular part of the job.

Public Safety Automatic Disqualifiers

Criminal History:

• Any conviction or plea of guilty or no contest to a felony or any offense that would be a felony if committed in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

• Conviction of any Class 1 or Class 2 misdemeanor, excluding traffic violations which are discussed separately, or the Virginia State Law equivalent within the last 5 years.

• Any conviction of plea of guilty or no contest to any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude including but not limited to petit larceny under Section 18.2-96 of the Code of Virginia or any offense involving moral turpitude that would be a misdemeanor if committed in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Crimes of moral turpitude include but limited to: fraud, all theft offenses and perjury.

• Any conviction or plea of guilty or no contest to any misdemeanor sex offense in the Commonwealth of Virginia, another state, or the United States, including but not limited to sexual battery under Section 18.2-67.4 of the Code Of Virginia or consensual sexual intercourse with a minor 15 or older under clause (ii) of Section 18.2-371 of the Code of Virginia, or domestic assault under Section 18.2-57.2 of the Code of Virginia or any offense that would be domestic assault under the laws of another state or the United States.

• Any conviction that requires the registration in the Virginia Sex Offender Registry.

• Adult commission of undetected crimes of a serious or repetitive nature.

  Traffic Violations:

• Three or more negative points on a Virginia Operator's License or the equivalent for out of state licenses. Points may be negated up to 5 points by attending defensive driving school offered by the Division of Motor Vehicles prior to initial testing.

• A conviction of Driving Under the Influence of drugs or alcohol in the past three years, or more than one conviction of Driving Under the Influence in the applicant's lifetime. Any conviction of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, refusal to take blood or breath test, eluding police, racing, or leaving the scene of an accident within the last 5 years.

• Active revocation or suspension of driving privileges in any state or driver's license suspended or revoked in the previous three years.

• A conviction in the previous three years of failure to stop after an accident (hit and run), operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked driver's license, participating in a speed contest or drag racing, fleeing or eluding a law enforcement officer, reckless driving or driving to endanger or violation of state regulations on implied consent.

• Involvement in two or more avoidable (at fault) motor vehicle accidents during the previous three years.

  Drugs:

• Sale or distribution of illegal drugs of any kind.

• Any illegal use of cocaine or heroin, or any other controlled substance listed in Schedule I or Schedule II of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia in the past five (5) years, or the use of any controlled substance listed in Schedule I or II more than once in the applicant's lifetime.

• Any illegal use of any controlled substance listed in Schedule I or Schedule II of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia in the past five (5) years or the illegal use of any controlled substance listed in Schedule I or II more than twice in the past ten years. The use of any hallucinogenic substance, such as LSD, PCP, or Psilocybin at any time in the applicant's life.

• Illegal use or possession of anabolic steroids within the last three (3) years.

• Illegal use or possession of marijuana or a derivative thereof within the previous twelve (12) months at time of application.

• Any illegal drug use of any kind after the age of thirty (30) will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis which has surpassed the duration limits set above in numbers 1 through 5 of the drug section.

  Illegal drug is defined as set forth in the Federal Controlled Substance Act, 21 U.S.C. §800 et al. and by the Code of Virginia.

  Credit:

  Demonstrated history of financial irresponsibility. (Examples of areas of concern include unpaid collections or unsatisfactory judgments where no payment plan has been established). Please call the academy staff to discuss your specific credit issues and concerns.

  Others:

• Past or current gang affiliation.

• Dishonorable discharge from any military service.

• Untruthfulness and/or the intentional withholding of information on any application, interview, or paperwork associated with the position. Examples of intentional withholding of information would include deliberate inaccuracies or incomplete statements.

• Intentional failure to follow the directions outlined in the testing process or relying on others to complete any portion of the testing process.

  Note:

  This is not intended to be an exhaustive listing of background disqualifiers. Applicants who are successful in the initial testing will undergo a thorough background investigation, including polygraph examination. Areas of concern will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis within the context of the full investigation/review. Examples of areas of concern may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Reduction of charges as a result of a plea agreement or other form of sentencing disposition prior to a conviction in any of the aforementioned criminal and driving history categories.

• Crimes committed as a juvenile, including undetected crime.

• Patterns of reckless and/or irresponsible driving.

• Multiple convictions of driving under the influence.

• Illegal drug use or possession that does not fall within the parameters defined above, including the use or possession of prescription drugs without a proper prescription.

• Less than honorable military discharge, erratic work record, or unfavorable employment references.

• Pending litigation or prosecution for criminal offenses must be resolved prior to consideration for employment.

Some minor offenses are classified as Class 1 misdemeanors (e.g. littering) but would not result in automatic disqualification. Convictions of this nature would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in the context of the full investigation/review.

All positions are subject to a criminal background check for any convictions that relate to the job duties and responsibilities.

The County’s EEO Utilization Report is available at www.fcva.us/jobs .