Being a telecommunications officer can be a very rewarding and fulfilling profession. It requires both physical skills and mental abilities. A dispatcher must be able to make decisions and act on them with limited time and information in situations where there is an element of danger. He or she must be able to deal with people in a variety of emotional states, while remaining calm and professional. Rigorous entry standards are absolutely necessary to ensure that dispatchers are able to meet the physical and mental demands of the job.
Job Requirements:
| High school diploma or GED or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job |
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| Ability to read and follow oral and written instructions |
| Net Keyboard/typing speed of 40 wpm or better(Gross minus errors = Net) |
| Effectively prioritize situations and make decisions based on the information received |
| Ability to hear and understand multiple sound sources |
| Able to handle multiple tasks to receive and communicate information to and from several sources ensuring calls for service are dispatched and monitored in a timely manner |
| Work under stressful conditions and react appropriately using good judgment |
| Availability to work shifts, including nights, weekends and holidays |
| Willingness to maintain respectful working relationships with co-workers, supervisors and the general public |
| Possess a clear and understandable radio and telephone voice |
Qualities of a good dispatcher include:
| High moral character and integrity |
| Compassion |
| Good judgment |
| High degree of emotional self control |
| Empathy and sensitivity |
| Intelligence |
| Good communication skills |
| Self confidence |
| Creativity and ingenuity |
| Strong desire to serve the community |
| Effective at multi-tasking |
Special Requirements:
| Must be CPR, EMD and NCIC certified. Certification must be attained within a reasonable amount of time upon appointment to position |
| Must pass a criminal background investigation and be free of felony convictions |
| Must pass pre-employment screening test, including a psychological exam, hearing test,and physical exam |
