Communications Officer

Walton County Sheriff's Office; DeFuniak Springs (FL); On-site; USD 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The Walton County Sheriff's Office is seeking a Communications Officer to provide critical call taking and dispatch support for field units, prioritizing safety and accuracy under stress.

The role requires a high school diploma or GED, 18+ years old, a valid driver’s license, typing 20 wpm, and Florida Safe Telecommunicator, EMD, and EFD certifications within set timelines. Strong multitasking and clear communication are essential.

Qualifications

• Education – High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Minimum 18 years of age.
• Valid Driver License.
• Type a minimum of 20 words per minute.
• Certifications: Florida Safe Telecommunicator, EMD, and EFD within specified timelines.

Responsibilities

• Receive, process or forward wrecker requests to the supervisor.
• Accurately maintain wrecker files.
• Generate communications reports.
• Provide correct information to inquiring persons.
• Promptly route calls to proper authority.
• Dispatch deputies for service calls.
• Provide updates to deputies and other personnel.
• Respond to outside agencies’ requests for assistance.
• Complete CAD entries for service calls.
• Disseminate information via NWS and FEMA alerts.
• Operate NCIC/FCIC systems.
• Notify appropriate personnel of applicable information.

Skills

Clear communication

Multi-tasking

Situational awareness

Radio/telephony operation

EMD/FD knowledge

Education

High school diploma or GED

Florida Safe Telecommunicator Certification (within 1 year)

Emergency Medical Dispatch Certification (IAED)

Emergency Fire Dispatch Certification (IAED)

Job description

Position Summary

The Communications Officer provides ongoing communication support to field units responding to calls and conducting patrols. The Communications Officer is responsible for performing a number of tasks simultaneously while gathering information from often uncooperative and/or emotional callers. The Communications Officer must quickly and effectively calm the caller to obtain necessary information to determine what resources need to be dispatched. The member must be able to take control of situations that may be chaotic, heart-wrenching, stressful, confusing, and frenzied. Their work within emergency response services often places them in the middle of life-or-death situations, so requirements and training for these positions are often stringent, rigorous, and unwavering. The Communications Officer must stay up to date with the latest technology, policies, procedures, and best practices affecting public safety services. The Communications Officer maintains a calm, professional demeanor while handling a variety of emergency and non-emergency calls.

Qualifications

• Education – High school diploma or GED equivalent
• Minimum 18 years of age
• Valid Driver License
• Type a minimum of 20 words per minute
• Certifications:
  • Obtain State of Florida Safe Telecommunicator Certification within one (1) year of hire
  • Obtain Emergency Medical Dispatch Certification from the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch
  • Obtain Emergency Fire Dispatch Certification from the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch

Essential Job Functions

This list of functions, duties, responsibilities, skills, and physical abilities is not intended to be all-inclusive, and the employer reserves the right to assign additional functions and responsibilities as deemed necessary.

• Receive process or forward all wrecker requests to the designated supervisor.
• Accurately maintain wrecker files.
• Generate communications reports.
• Utilize communications resources to provide inquiring persons correct information.
• Promptly route calls to the proper authority.
• Accurately track, monitor and document all deputies and other members’ activities as required during their tour of duty.
• Dispatches deputies for service calls.
• Provide deputies with updates and additional information as it becomes available.
• Requests and responds to outside agencies’ requests for assistance.
• Completes CAD system entries for service calls.
• Receive requests for watch order checks/extra patrols.
• Accurately complete and submit WO/EP forms by end of shift.
• Correctly discriminate between emergency and non-emergency calls.
• Effectively prioritize calls for service.
• Operate the telephone console/switchboard.
• Ensures the appropriate agency response to the caller or the appropriate members are dispatched to the scene.
• Answer calls in a courteous and professional manner.
• Assist callers as appropriate, determine the nature of a call and transfer the call to the appropriate member.
• Correctly and promptly dispatches appropriate units to calls for service based on priority, location and resource availability.
• Effectively disseminates information received over the National Warning System Terminal from FEMA and the National Weather Service to all appropriate members/agencies.
• Operates NCIC/FCIC computer to standards mandated by state and federal authorities.
• Receive and disseminate accurate information to the authorized members in a timely manner.
• Notifies surrounding agencies of robberies and priority events.
• Maintains accurate and up to date communications/dissemination logs.
• Contact the appropriate entity to verify warrants to ensure they are complete, accurate and still outstanding.
• Notify appropriate personnel of applicable information and properly update records.
• Utilizes the 2-way radio for official communications only.
• Participate in in‑house and external trainings to develop specialized knowledge for communications call taking and/or dispatch duties.
• Follow International Academies of Emergency Dispatch for Fire (EFD) and Medical (EMD) interrogations prior to the arrival of the first responders.
• Responds to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles check requests. Correctly retrieves and disseminates the requested information in a timely manner.
• Review bulletins, requests for service and other information received from criminal justice agencies via teletype.
• Promptly take appropriate action as necessary. Routing and dispersing the requests to the appropriate personnel or assigning it to another member for follow up.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills

• Maintains a clean, organized, safe and presentable work area.
• Communicate clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing.
• Exhibits situational awareness to surrounding conditions.
• Communicates in a clear, concise and intelligible manner on the radio.
• Ability to transmit information in a clear and articulate manner.
• Ability to multi-task during stressful and non-stressful conditions.
• Demonstrate adequate knowledge and skills in EMD and EFD.

Key Competencies

• Ability to read, interpret, follow and apply agency policies and procedures.
• Ability to adapt to unexpected changes to safely complete tasks.
• Demonstrates good verbal communications.
• Ability to operate the 911 system correctly with regards to response time, etiquette, sensitivity and procedure.
• Properly use the CAD system and related equipment.
• Ability to listen, comprehend and respond to all dispatch codes.
• Job may involve making immediate decisions with insufficient data and requires the ability to evaluate changing events and decide on the appropriate course of action.

Physical Requirements

• Work is performed in an office environment with frequent interruptions and changes in the workflow and irregularities in the work schedule.
• Work shifts may include evenings, weekends, holidays, and hours during inclement weather and school closures.
• Position involves sitting for extended periods of time while working at a computer terminal.
• Learned physical skill is required to perform keyboarding function.
• Position requires the ability to effectively communicate through oral and written mediums and adequate hearing and visual acuity to listen, relay information and monitor computer display terminal.

The Walton County Sheriff's Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Walton County Sheriff's Office will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Veterans are encouraged to apply. Pursuant to applicable state and federal law, preference and priority shall be given to certain service members and veterans (including spouses and family members of such service members and veterans), and certain service members may be eligible for a waiver of post-secondary educational requirements as provided in Chapter 295, Florida Statutes.