Key Responsibilities and Duties
Enters all emergency data into a Premier One Computer Aided Dispatch (P1 CAD) system.
Receives information and requests for additional personnel or equipment from field units; informs field units of potential threats, risk, and hazards, such as involvement of weapons, hazardous materials, or violent subjects.
Dispatches, via radio or telephone, emergency and other calls for service to the proper police agencies and units; maintains strict radio discipline at all times; complies with Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) regulations, department policies and procedures in the transmission of all radio traffic; maintains radio communications with department units for the purpose of providing assistance and coordinating operations.
Assists with the maintenance of records, maps and all communications equipment and performs administrative, clerical tasks and data entry and retrieval essential to the efficient operation of the communications center.
May assist in the on-the-job training of new Telecommunicators personnel, and/or assist or relieve other Telecommunicators, as required.
Keeps informed of County ordinances, State Statutes and other law enforcement related information/documents through memorandum.
Maintains and cares for communications console station and related equipment.
May be required to review transcripts and/or tape recordings related to the investigation of complaints/calls for service and may be required to testify in court.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Actively listens to others and understands their needs and situations; writes and speaks english in an understandable manner; assertively controls conversations in order to quickly and accurately gather pertinent information and communicates this information professionally and precisely to the proper recipient.
Reads and understands correspondence, directives and General Orders; willingness to support and carry out directive and the mission of the agency.
Acts in a decisive manner, using good judgment; assesses problems and situations; anticipates needs and evaluates alternatives; deals professionally with emergency and stressful situations so as to avoid over-reaction; maintains flexibility in adjusting to situations and procedures.
Deals with people with a high degree of personal integrity; sensitive to other’s problems without direct involvement; excludes personal biases from work performance; has ability to accept criticism and/or discipline; has tact and diplomacy; strives to promote a cooperative atmosphere in the Communications Center and maintains a positive attitude.
Must have emotional stability, self-motivation, loyalty and commitment to the organization, to include the County, as well as agencies the 911 Center serves; willingness to take the initiative; be dependable; display maturity in relationships with others; have good personal appearance and self-confidence.
Must represent the organization to other agencies and citizens with a courteous, helpful, accurate and business-like attitude in all radio, telephone, computer and personal contract.
Detects and corrects errors; performs multiple tasks simultaneously; coordinates heavy workloads to maintain organization and utilizes work time properly and productively.
Successfully acquires working knowledge of radio equipment, telephone and computer functions during probationary period; updates and maintains such knowledge on a continuous basis; acquires and applies knowledge of equipment limitations and alternatives.
Knowledge of the service area, surrounding area and cooperating agency procedures and resources.
Ability to quickly learn new information and initiate improvements in both technical and procedural areas.
Ability to work up to twelve (12) hours at a time, continuously wearing a communications headset that will cover one (1) ear or fit within the ear canal of an ear, while retaining the ability to hear and understand other outside sound sources not coming to this ear piece; ability to read and discern visual images on a variety of media; ability to remain seated at the same workstation for up to twelve (12) hours at a time, while maintaining the ability to type accurately on a computer keyboard, all while conversing with callers.
Must be able to work any and all shifts of a twenty-four (24) hour per day period.
Must be able to report for mandatory overtime, four (4) hours before the start of your scheduled shift OR four (4) hours after your scheduled shift.
Must be able to speak and express oneself in a clear and articulate manner.
Knowledge of techniques and procedures used in operating emergency communications equipment.
Knowledge of customer service standards and best practices.
Knowledge of applicable Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS)/National Crime Information Center (NCIC) system and guidelines.
Skill in operation emergency communications radio equipment.
Skills in empathetic listening techniques.
Miscellaneous Requirements: WORKING CONDITIONS
This position is located in a call center environment, with exposure to multiple computer screens and requires work under stressful conditions. Essential and marginal functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for sitting for prolonged periods of time and continuously wearing a headset which restricts movement in the work area.
The hours of operation are twenty-four (24) hours a day, three hundred and sixty five (365) days a year. The employee is primarily scheduled for shift work hours and work periods may have permanent or rotating days off, frequently requiring the employee to work holidays, weekends, evenings and nights.
**All candidates MUST successfully complete the 911 Telecommunicator Assessment offered thru the National Testing Network as described below, to be considered for this position, no later than June 1, 2016**
Minimum Qualifications
Must be in possession of a High School Diploma or General Education Development (G.E.D.) test certificate.
As of the date of application, candidates must have reached their 20th birthday.
Possession of a valid Driver’s License. (The Sheriff’s Police Department Emergency Communication Center is located in Des Plaines, Illinois; the location does not have any access to public transportation).
Must be capable of working up to twelve (12) hours at a time, continuously wearing a communications headset that will cover one (1) ear or fit within the ear canal of an ear, while retaining the ability to hear and understand other outside sound sources not coming to this ear piece; ability to read and discern visual images on a variety of media; ability to remain seated at the same workstation for up to twelve (12) hours at a time, while maintaining the ability to type accurately on a computer keyboard, all while conversing with callers.
Typing skills (30 w.p.m. with 95% accuracy), familiarity with computer keyboards and data inputting, clearly legible handwriting and proficiency in spelling.
Must successfully pass written examination(s).
Must successfully pass an oral interview panel.
Must successfully pass a hearing and vision test.
Must successfully pass background investigation(s).
Must meet all unit requirements to the satisfaction of the Director of
Communications within the contracted three hundred and sixty five (365) day probationary period.
Must possess the ability and willingness to work any or all assigned shifts of a twenty-four (24) hour day period and be available to emergency call-in; overlapping of shifts and/or overtime may be required.
Must successfully obtain certification from the State of Illinois as a Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS) Operator within ninety (90) days of hire and maintain current certification throughout course of employment.
**All candidates MUST successfully complete the 911 Telecommunicator Assessment offered thru the National Testing Network as described below., to be considered for this position**
The Cook County Sheriff’s Department offers full testing services for emergency communications through National Testing Network, Inc. To fill out an application and schedule a test, go to
w
ww.nationaltestingnetwork.com
, select Telecommunicator / 911Communications and sign up for the Cook County Sheriff’s Department.
What to expect at the
www.nationaltestingnetwork.com
website:
- Completion of the application process
- Review all information related to the Cook County Sheriff’s Department, including minimum requirements, salary and benefits.
- Detailed information about the testing process the entry level test.
- Schedule your own convenient test time. Tests are offered multiple times a week.
- Take high quality job simulation tests in a standardized, fair testing environment.
Upon completion of the entry level exam, all candidate scores are automatically forwarded to the Cook County Sheriff’s Department. Candidates who attain a passing score on the entry level exam will be placed on the department’s eligibility list. The Cook County Sheriff’s Department will contact successful candidates on the list and will invite them to continue to participate in other stages of the department selection process.
National Testing Network is a service provided to conduct entry level testing and physical abilities testing in a standardized, professional environment. National Testing Network does not replace the Cook County Sheriff’s Department’s responsibility and decision making in the testing process. All candidate results are provided to Cook County Sheriff’s Department where the final decisions are made.
Preferred Qualifications
One (1) or more years of professional work experience in the use of the Premier
One Computer-Aided Dispatch (P1 CAD) system.
Possession of a current Law Enforcement Agencies Data System (LEADS) certification.
One (1) or more years of professional, full time work experience in a multijurisdictional 9-1-1 Center.
One (1) or more years of professional, full time work experience as a Police 9-1-1
Dispatcher AND trained as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher AND/OR a Fire Dispatcher.
Completion or current enrollment in a Public Safety Communications course resulting in obtaining a vocational training certificate.
The duties listed are not set forth for purposes of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the many duties normally to be performed under a job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee’s normal line of work.
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office prohibits all unlawful discrimination in its hiring and promotional process.
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