911 Communications Officer

Overview: 

The purpose of this classification is to receive and respond to incoming calls to the City’s emergency 911 communication system and to dispatch emergency service and/or law enforcement personnel as appropriate.
 

Job Responsibilities:

The following duties are normal for this position.  The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.  Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Receives calls on the City’s emergency 911 system, including emergency calls, non-emergency calls, TDD calls, and language lines.

• For non-emergency calls, provides information, answers questions, takes messages, and/or refers caller to appropriate staff; contacts various other departments as needed to resolve problems.

• For emergency calls, obtains information from callers and determines the appropriate agency to respond; contacts and dispatches appropriate agency; provides agency with information needed to respond and to ensure personnel/officer safety; works to keep caller calm; monitors status of response; and contacts wrecker services and utility companies as needed.

• Logs incoming calls and dispatch information into an automated system; enters information pertinent to incoming calls, dispatched agencies, response time and actions taken; and maintains records of calls and dispatching activities; records all officer calls, dispatch time, arrival time and completion time; files required documentation, requests and responses.

• Monitors a variety of radio frequencies; monitors weather radios; alerts field personnel to weather conditions; monitors other frequencies to communicate with law enforcement, ambulance, fire and other emergency services providers; provides information to and/or obtains information from field personnel regarding emergencies, incident scenes, directions, and status.

• Performs computer background checks and handles inquiries on driver's licenses, vehicle tags, stolen articles and property, guns, wanted and missing persons, warrants and summons; provides various information from computer database as requested by officers.

• Performs various administrative support activities such as entering, updating and retrieving information from databases; enters law enforcement information into databases; maintains communication logs; queries data bases upon request; researches warrant information, driver’s licenses and tags; submits information to appropriate staff; and performs system backups and reboots servers as needed.

• Communicates with supervisor, City employees, the public, law enforcement, fire, and medical personnel, outside agencies, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, resolve problems, or give/receive advice/direction.

• Prepares or completes various forms, reports, memos, spreadsheets, or other documents.

• Receives various forms, reports, weather advisories, incident reports, GCIC information, warrants, orders of protection, codes, ordinances, policies, procedures, manuals, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.

• Maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge and awareness of applicable laws, regulations, policies and procedures; maintains an awareness of new equipment, procedures, trends and advances in the profession; participates in continuing education activities; attends shift meetings, workshops and seminars as appropriate.

• Operates a GCIC terminal, a personal computer, and general office equipment as necessary to complete essential functions, to include the use of emergency communications software, word processing, spreadsheet, database, or other system software.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES:

Data Utilization:  Requires the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data.  Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification, and in referencing such analysis to established standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships.

Human Interaction:  Requires the ability to apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others in coordinating activities of a project, program, or designated area of responsibility.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization:  Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

Verbal Aptitude:  Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information.

Mathematical Aptitude:  Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.  May include counting, recording of counts, and basic measuring.

Functional Reasoning:  Requires the ability to apply principles of rational systems; to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form; and to exercise independent judgment to adopt or modify methods and standards to meet variations in assigned objectives.

Situational Reasoning:  Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.
 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Individuals applying for the posted position must be able to perform the essential functions of the position with or without a reasonable accommodation.
 

Performs other related duties as required.
 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

High School diploma or GED; supplemented by some experience customer service  or a related field, data entry (25 wpm); or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job. Must possess and maintain a valid Georgia driver’s license. Must obtain and maintain training and/or certification in the following:  Basic Communications Officer, or other training and certifications as deemed necessary. This position requires shift work, overnight, holiday and weekends hours.
 

ADA COMPLIANCE

Physical Ability:  Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or work station.

Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, and visual cues or signals.  Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Environmental Factors: Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

City of Kennesaw-Growing City, Growing Careers

From its pre-Civil War beginnings in the 1800s, to its current reputation as a Best City to Live In, Kennesaw has been recognized throughout the U.S. for its standards of excellence and quality of life. Kennesaw has grown to a community of 36,000 residents within a 9-square-mile area. Located 26 miles north of downtown Atlanta near I-75, Kennesaw has taken advantage of its convenient location and the willingness of its employees to provide a strong base of services to businesses, residents, and visitors alike.

The City of Kennesaw is an Equal Opportunity Employer and the Kennesaw Police Department actively recruits any qualified person regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or age.

We participate in the E-Verify program as required by law. To find out more, visit. www.everify.gov