Telecommunicator

National Police; DeKalb (IL); Hybrid; USD 3,777,000 - 5,413,000; Full time

Job summary

National Police is seeking a Telecommunicator to handle emergency and non-emergency calls, prioritize responses, and dispatch police, fire, and EMS units. The role involves multi‑system operation, high stress, confidentiality, and extensive public contact in a 24/7 environment.

Responsibilities include monitoring NG9-1-1 and other feeds, entering and updating LEADS/NCIC records, and providing pre-arrival instructions to callers.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• LEADS 3.0 Full Access Certification within 30 days.
• Illinois State Police Telecommunicator Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse Training within 30 days.
• 40-hour PowerPhone Public Safety Dispatch Course during training.
• American Heart Association CPR/AED certification within timeframe.
• IDPH Emergency Medical Dispatcher license before completing training.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Typing at least 35 words per minute.
• MS Office knowledge and departmental systems familiarity.

Responsibilities

• Receives and routes emergency and non-emergency calls for police and fire services.
• Operates radio consoles and multiple computer terminals to dispatch units.
• Monitors CCTV and citywide alerts; maintains records of activity.
• Provides pre-arrival instructions and pertinent information to officers and callers.
• Works shift work including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Skills

Typing 35 wpm

MS Office knowledge

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

LEADS 3.0 Full Access Certification

Illinois State Police Telecommunicator Training

PowerPhone Public Safety Dispatch Course

CPR/ AED certification

IDPH Emergency Medical Dispatcher license

Driver's license

Tools

LEADS/NCIC

Job description

Salary: $27.42 - $39.29 Hourly

Position Summary

The Telecommunicator receives, analyzes, classifies, prioritizes and responds to calls of an emergency and non-emergency nature, including those calls involving life-threatening situations.

The position of Telecommunicator is assigned to the Community Support Services Division of the Police Department and works under the direct supervision of the Communications Coordinator. The position is a full-time position represented under AFSCME and requires the Telecommunicator to work a forty-hour work week. The position will require shift work including evenings, weekends and holidays. The position works under extremely stressful situations and must maintain confidentiality at all times. There is extensive contact with the general public and City employees in-person and through electronic mediums.

Essential Functions

• Receives all incoming emergency and non-emergency calls for police and fire departments, in addition to after-hours calls to City Hall.
• Receives emergency calls for service from multiple sources including an NG9-1-1 system, text-to-911, video-to-911, video relay services, social media, and alarm reporting integrations.
• Operates a multi-channel computerized radio communication console with multiple computer terminals including phone and radio systems to obtain, enter, dispatch, transmit and maintain information and calls for service.
• Monitors other local police and fire radio frequencies as well as additional Municipal frequencies.
• Accurately enters relevant information and updates notes into police and fire calls for service and in accordance with established procedures operates a computer-aided dispatch system.
• Prioritizes and sequences calls promptly in limited time utilizing law enforcement, fire and EMS protocols with limited or no supervision.
• Initiates emergency phone tracing using specialized procedures for landline and mobile phones.
• Assigns calls to police and fire units for necessary action, determining the appropriate units required for response. Coordinates, when necessary, with patrol and fire supervisors regarding deployment of personnel.
• Operates multiple systems across six to eight monitors. Visually monitors closed-circuit television security cameras in and around the City and the Police Department.
• Monitors and/or operates generator and fire alarm panels.
• Maintains contact with all units on-duty and on assignment; maintains records of activity for all field calls and units dispatched; assigns and coordinates backup personnel as required and issues status checks for safety on responding units.
• Provides pre-arrival police, fire and EMS instructions to callers reporting crimes or medical emergencies in-progress.
• Provides supplemental information to officers and field personnel expeditiously, including but not limited to warrants, vehicle responses, driver’s license status, and parole, gang, sex offender and other criminal history information.
• Interprets or clarifies coded responses from various systems for law enforcement, including confirmation of warrants and other types of hits while maintaining paperwork and updating or entering records into LEADS/NCIC as applicable.
• Utilizes language interpretation services and coordinates with mental health resources for appropriate contacts with callers who have mental health or language barriers to receiving help.
• Provides information and assistance to the walk-in public.
• Maintains extensive interaction with the general public requiring professional and timely responses.
• Reports equipment malfunctions and dangerous/hazardous conditions to the appropriate authority.
• Monitors and sends citywide alert notifications.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• LEADS 3.0 Full Access Certification within 30 days of employment.
• Illinois State Police Telecommunicator Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse Training within 30 days of employment.
• 40-hour PowerPhone Public Safety Dispatch Course (Emergency Medical Dispatch, Law Enforcement Dispatch, and Fire Service Dispatch) while in training.
• American Heart Association Basic Life Saver CPR/AED or equivalent Certification within an agreed-upon timeframe.
• Obtain an Illinois Department of Public Health Emergency Medical Dispatcher license before the completion of training.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Two years of experience with emergency services communications desired.Working knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook) is strongly desired. Previous experience or the ability to gain experience with departmental systems is required.
• Ability to type a minimum of thirty-five (35) words per minute.
• Working knowledge of phone, radio Records Management, and Computer Aided Dispatch systems desired.