General Statement of Duties

Under the direct supervision of the Communications Commander and the general supervision of the shift commander, the Communications Operator is responsible for providing dispatching services to emergency services providers and public service entities during his / her tour of duty. The position will require working a rotation of various shifts and work days as assigned including day, evening and midnight shifts, weekends and holidays.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

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  Answer all calls for service, both emergency and non-emergency, determine the nature and priority of calls and dispatch appropriate service providers to properly address the needs related to the calls for service.
• Monitor and maintain communications with field units to provide updated information from reporting parties and/or field units. Identify additional assets required to assist in resolving situations and direct those resources to incident scenes.
• Provide direction and assistance to callers during emergency situations through the use of established protocol such as Emergency Medical Dispatch procedures prior to the arrival of service providers.
• Maintain records and information concerning crime reports, dispatch information, calls for service, business information and contact persons and other official documents related to public safety communications in a timely and efficient manner. Assist with filing, recording and storing official dispatch information.
• Provide information concerning general safety and personal security to the general public during situations such as crimes in progress, dangerous weather conditions, natural or man-made hazards and medical emergencies.
• Maintain communication with other local and regional emergency service providers.
• Provide local and regional information such as weather and road conditions to emergency services providers as requested.
• Assist walk-in customers during periods when the administrative offices are closed.
• Operate office equipment in conjunction with emergency communications to include, but not limited to, telephone, both standard and enhanced 911, computer systems, two-way radio systems, photo copier, fax machine, computer paging systems, computer printers.
  
  

Marginal Duties and Responsibilities

• Attend ongoing training sessions and departmental meetings as required.
• Perform all duties and functions in a manner consistent with safe practices and policies established by the City of Brookings and the Brookings Police Department.
• Perform other such duties as deemed appropriate and assigned/directed.

Minimum Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Experience and Education

• High school diploma or G.E.D. equivalent required.
• Minimum of one-year full-time experience in a full-service law enforcement communications center preferred.
• Current certification in Emergency Medical Dispatching and CPR preferred.
• Current certification as Full-Use NCIC Operator preferred.
• Current South Dakota 911 Operator Certification preferred.
• Basic knowledge and experience with the use of both local area and State networked computer systems and their components or similar computer network experience; telephone and/or E91 l telephone systems, two-way radio systems and other general dispatch equipment.
• Ability to successfully pass an extensive criminal history background investigation to include no serious misdemeanor, felony or domestic violence convictions.
• Ability to demonstrate good communications skills both orally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain a professional relationship with outside agencies, departmental personnel and the general public.

Language Skills

• Ability to read and comprehend instructions, short correspondence and memos.
• Ability to compose correspondence and summarize activities and communications for documentation purposes.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients and other employees of the organization.
• Ability to accurately record and disseminate information received from the public or emergency personnel via telephone and/or radio transmissions.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to add and subtract two digit numbers and to multiply and divide with I O's and IO0's.
• Ability to perform these operations using units of volume and distance.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
  
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Examination, Testing and Certification

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  Successful competition in written and/or oral interviews.
• Current South Dakota 911 Operator Certification or ability to obtain certification within one year of appointment.
• Current certification in Emergency Medical Dispatching and CPR or ability to obtain within one year of appointment.
• Current NCIC Full-use operator certification or ability to obtain within one year of appointment.
• Other such examinations as deemed appropriate and necessary by the City.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel, and to talk clearly and hear.
• The employee frequently is required to reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.
• The employee must work various shifts as assigned, which may include weekends and holidays, overnights and evenings.
• Ability to maintain calm and communicate effectively during conditions of extreme stress and crisis.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Typical Performance Requirements

• Ability to effectively and efficiently operate radio and telephone, computer and teletype equipment and systems.
• Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently with emergency services personnel and the public.
• Exercise sound independent judgment with the ability to act quickly and decisively in times of crisis.
• Ability to demonstrate a working knowledge of Federal, State and local codes and ordinances as it applies to initial contacts for law enforcement services.
• Ability to effectively communicate procedures involving emergency medical dispatching techniques to callers during medical emergencies.
• Ability to demonstrate a working knowledge of local geography. Demonstrate the ability to read maps and computer mapping systems and translate directions and locations effectively to emergency services providers.
• Master the special requirements and tasks associated with emergency services dispatching and call taking.

Pre-employment Screening

Pre-employment screening may include, but are not limited to, the following: references, criminal background, credit history, drug and alcohol screening, medical history questionnaire, and pre-employment physical.