Communications Officer

City of Foley; Foley (AL); On-site; USD 36,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Premium coverage paid by City

Job summary

The City of Foley, Alabama is seeking a Communications Officer to monitor police radio and telephone systems, dispatch emergency personnel, and maintain accurate incident records. You will enter calls into the CAD system, run NCIC checks, and support officers during shifts.

Qualifications include a high school diploma or equivalent, 1 year of related experience, and the ability to pass exams and screenings. NCIC certification must be obtained within 6 months of employment.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or its equivalent and one year of related experience.
• Must be 18 years of age and possess a valid driver's license.
• Must obtain NCIC certification within six months of employment.
• Must pass a written exam, a criminal background investigation, polygraph, psychological evaluation, and drug and medical screenings.

Responsibilities

• Monitors police radio and telephone systems for emergencies and non-emergencies.
• Receives calls, determines incident information, and dispatches appropriate personnel.
• Documents incident details quickly and accurately to establish urgency and type.
• Log calls in CADS and track officer movement from call to call.
• Uses NCIC to run checks on licenses, registrations, histories, and warrants.

Skills

Effective communication

Multitasking

Teamwork

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

CADS

NCIC

AlaCOP

Fonality

Job description

Under general supervision, this position monitors police radio and telephone systems for the City of Foley Police Department. Tracks all communications between Police Officers and the department during shift. Receives all complaint calls and dispatches emergency personnel according to standard operating procedures. Keeps records of all activities during shift. Dispatches calls received to officers. Answers phone calls. Runs driver’s licenses, tags, etc., through NCIC and completes paperwork as necessary for the situation. Enters calls received into the CAD system, enters warrants, and clears warrants. Performs officer safety checks.

Essential Functions

• Monitors multiple radio channels to receive and transmit emergency and non-emergency radio traffic.
• Receives phone calls for police and non-police assistance for both emergencies and non-emergencies.
• Ascertains incident information by obtaining and verifying caller information and location, determining the nature of the incident and all available data.
• Interacts with other agencies as needed for medical or other police agency assistance.
• Documents incident details quickly and accurately to establish incident urgency, categorizing the incident type, and obtaining proper help for the caller. Demonstrates clear, effective communication and active listening with public safety responders using appropriate terminology, codes, and signals. Relays initial information for dispatch accurately, reviewing the call for service details, and assuming incident command until first responders arrive.
• Utilizes NCIC to run checks on driver’s licenses, vehicle registrations, criminal histories, wanted/missing persons and check for stolen items.
• Monitors NCIC for messages and advisories and disseminates information appropriately.
• Maintains chain of custody for records and documentation used in court proceedings and legal discovery.
• Receives, enters, modifies, and files warrants from the court.
• Pulls, clears, and completes appropriate paperwork for warrants when served.
• Utilizes the CADS (Computer Aided Dispatch System) to log calls for police, logs the movement of officers from call to call, and records actions taken on calls answered by police officers.
• Utilizes the mapping system to determine jurisdictional lines and agency responsibility and notifies the appropriate personnel.
• Utilizes a variety of computer software essential to the duties of a Communications Officer such as CADS, NCIC, AlaCOP, Fonality, etc.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education And Experience

High School Diploma or its equivalent and one (1) year of experience in a job related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Special Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age and possess a valid driver's license.
• Must obtain NCIC certification within six (6) months of employment.
• Must successfully pass a written exam, a criminal background investigation, polygraph examination, psychological evaluation, and drug and medical screenings.

The City's group insurance is currently through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. The employees’ health, vision, hearing and dental premiums are paid in full by the City. The City pays 50% of family coverage. The employee cost for family health, vision and hearing is $67.47 per semi-monthly deduction cycle and dental is $10.00 per semi-monthly deduction cycle. See enclosed booklets in your onboarding plan for coverage details. **NOTE** If family coverage is desired, 2 deductions must be made from check or paid in full prior to effective date of coverage. The total monthly cost for family health and dental coverage is $154.94.