Police communications operator job description

The Pennsylvania State Police is seeking an experienced and dependable Police Communications Operator who has experience working in a fast-paced environment where priorities must be recognized and adjusted as needed. The selected candidate must be available and willing to work rotating shifts, including weekends and holidays regardless of weather conditions and may be required to extend their shift due to operational needs.

If you are looking for a challenging, rewarding career and possess excellent communication skills, the Pennsylvania State Police would like to talk to you!

As a Police Communications Operator (PCO) for the Pennsylvania State Police, you will receive calls from the general public and county 911 operators regarding emergency and non-emergency police issues; question callers to gather details, determine response requirements, and assign relative priorities of incidents; dispatch and relay incident information to responding Troopers; contact municipal police, fire, ambulance, towing, PennDOT, etc., to provide incident details and request assistance and response; utilize CLEAN, JNET and PFAD to access, research, and maintain records; establish and maintain incident information in electronic record management systems; and communicate with Troopers and other PCOs regarding active incidents or concerns.

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.
Work Schedule and Additional Information:

* Full-time employment (40-hour work week).
* Work hours: Rotating Shifts, including weekends and holidays.
* Salary: Please note, selected candidates who are new to employment within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $44,712 (before taxes).
* You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

* Two years of experience using two-way radio, multi-line telephone, or computer aided dispatch systems; or
* Two years of experience using computer systems for entering, updating, and retrieving information; or
* Completion of 60 college credits; or
* An equivalent combination of experience and training.

Necessary Special Requirements:

* All employees must possess a clear, firm voice and no major speech, hearing, or visual impairments that would interfere with understanding verbal communication, being understood, or using electronic communications equipment and visual display equipment.

* All employees must obtain an active Public Safety Telecommunicator certification issued by the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials within the probationary period and maintain the same for the duration of employment in this job.

* All employees must obtain active Commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Network (CLEAN) and Pennsylvania Justice Network (JNET) certifications issued by the Pennsylvania State Police within the probationary period and maintain the same for the duration of employment in this job.

Additional Requirements:

* You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

* You must pass criminal history and background investigations.
* This job title has been identified as performing critical duties. Prior to placement in this job title, the selected candidate regardless of their current job, must submit a Report of Medications for screening by the State Police Medical Officer.

How to Apply:

* Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
* If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
* Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
* Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

* 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

The Anaheim Police Department is seeking motivated and detail-orientated individuals for the position of Police Communications Operator. The ideal candidate will be able to multi-task and work in a fast paced environment.

Candidates must possess prior experience that includes heavy public contact as a telephone operator, receptionist, police cadet, or related position. Incumbents must also be able to type at a net corrected speed of 50 words per minuteand must be available to work assigned shifts, including weekends and holidays.

NOTE: This recruitment may be used to fill full-time and part-time positions.
Essential Functions

The following functions are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed functions and/or may be required to perform additional or different functions from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

Answer 9-1-1 calls, recording necessary information, transmitting information to dispatchers and, as appropriate, maintaining communication with caller until arrival of appropriate emergency units.

On non-emergency lines, determine nature of call whether the call is an emergency, urgent or routine matter, transmitting information to dispatchers or transferring to appropriate extension.

Read maps and memorize streets and coordinates; determine sectors.

Assist callers in a wide variety of emergency and urgent matters, giving advice and counseling callers to remain calm and to follow instructions.

Duplicate various schedules, logs and reports as required.

Operate a computer, telephone console, and an enhanced 9-1-1 system.

Monitor security cameras and review building security; screen all in-coming personnel and guests at the station and parking lot.

Operate the computer aided dispatch system equipment, Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) and other office equipment; operate teletype and computer terminal to check for registered owner of vehicles and other information.

Attend communications and patrol briefings and review daily logs of previous shifts.

Research information and respond to field officer inquires.

Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Qualifications

Experience: Prior experience that includes heavy public contact as a telephone operator, receptionist, police cadet, or related position, is required.

Knowledge of: English usage and spelling, basic telephone procedures and techniques, and principles of effective verbal communication.

Ability to: Type 50 net wpm quickly and accurately on a computer keyboard; write quickly and legibly; speak clearly and distinctly; remain calm in crises and high stress situations; solicit required information from callers; receive confidential information and maintain confidentiality; understand pertinent procedures and functions quickly and apply them without immediate supervision; establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

NOTE: Must be available to work assigned shifts, including weekends and holidays.

Employees of the Anaheim Police Department must be permanent and fulltime residents of the State of California and live within a one hundred (100) mile radius of the City of Anaheim.

Supplemental Information

IMPORTANT APPLICATION INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

Applications will be accepted until Thursday, October 20, 2022at 5:00 PM.Applicants are encouraged to apply early. Applications will not be accepted after this deadline.

Written Exam -tentatively scheduled for the week of 11/7/2022

The City of Anaheim utilizes the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery. The POST Examinee Guide provides information about the test. Because the test measures general abilities, there is no study guide or reading list for the test. It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the test formats shown in the Examinee Guide.

Written Exam Waiver Request

Applicants who have taken the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery within 365 days of application and achieved a T-score of 54.7 or higher may request a waiver from the written exam. Applicants requesting to waive the written exam are required to submit proof of their qualifying T-score on agency letterhead from the agency that administered the exam. Applicants who possess a qualifying T-score must attach the required documentation to their application.

Applicants may not take the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher SelectionTest Batterywithin 30 calendar days of takingthe examwith another department/agency.

PLEASE DO NOT ATTACH ANY OTHER DOCUMENTS TO YOUR APPLICATION EXCEPT WHAT IS REQUESTED ABOVE.

The following background documents are required and must be completed and brought to the oral interview.

* Personal History Statement (PHS)
* Background Investigation Questionnaire (BIQ) - copy link address and paste into your browser
* Required Documents

Please provide as many of the required documents along with your PHS and BIQ. Items such as transcripts, credit report or other missing documents can be provided upon your receiving them.

Anaheim Police Department Blueprint - knowledge of the Anaheim Police Department Blueprint is required of all Police Department employees.

The selection process includes, but is not limited to, a written exam, skills exam (i.e. typing, proofreading, etc.), oral interview, background investigation, polygraph examination, psychological evaluation, a medical examination, which includes drug/alcohol screening.

The interview with the background investigator and completion of the background investigation will include, but is not limited to, verification and evaluation of any present and/or past use of drugs, driving and employment history.

Please review the following commondisqualifiers. If any items listed pertain to you, you will be automatically disqualified in the background investigation. You may, at this time, want to screen yourself and withdraw prior to starting the recruitment process.

* Any illegal use, sales, or possession of a drug classified as an opiate (heroin, opium, etc.) or PCP.
* Any use of cocaine, methamphetamine, hallucinogens (GHB,MDMA/ecstasy,ketamine, etc.) within five years of date of application.
* Any illegal use of anabolic steroids within three years of date of application.
* A pattern or history of irresponsibility as evidenced by debt collections, civil judgments, failure to pay, late payments, etc.
* Two or more at-fault traffic collisions within three years of the date of application.
* Conviction of a hit-and run offense.
* Any driver's license suspension within five years of date of application.
* Conviction of a felony crime.
* Conviction of any misdemeanor crime within five years of application.
* Any conviction as an adult, of any misdemeanor crime involving domestic violence, sexual-related offenses or crimes against children.
* Any conviction as an adult, of a theft or larceny crime.

The following may result in disqualification:

* Use of cocaine, methamphetamine, hallucinogens (GHB,MDMA/ecstasy,ketamine, etc.) previous to five years of application.
* Prior marijuana use.
* Prior nitrous oxide use.
* Illegal use of anabolic steroids previous to three years of application.
* Illegal use of a hypodermic needle/ syringe.
* A bankruptcy within the past three years of date of application.
* More than one moving violation in the past 12 months, and/or three or more moving citations within the past three years, and/or five or more moving citations within the past five years of date of application.

The eligibility list established from this recruitment may also be used to fill the current and/or additional vacancies throughout the City.

Candidates must be specific and complete in describing their qualifications for this position. Failure to state all pertinent information may lead to elimination from consideration. Stating "See Resume" is not an acceptable substitute for a completed application.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a reference / background check (to include a conviction record) and pass a post-offer pre-employment medical examination (which will include a drug/alcohol screening). The City of Anaheim utilizes E-Verify and new employees must provide documentation to establish both identity and work authorization.

Communication regarding your application and/or status will be sent to the email address listed on your application. Please check your email regularly throughout the recruitment process as you will not receive communications by any other method.

Equal Opportunity Employer