Emergency Communications Officer (Certified Lateral)

What You’ll Do

• Receive, process, and prioritize emergency and non-emergency requests for law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services.
• Utilize extensive customer service skills and techniques to guide callers through high-stress situations while obtaining information necessary to ensure an effective public safety response.
• Provide appropriate pre-arrival instructions and lifesaving guidance in accordance with established protocols.

• Dispatch law enforcement, fire and emergency medical resources based on the nature and priority of incidents.
• Maintain continuous radio communication with field personnel on multiple radio channels and accurately document unit status and activity.
• Provide responders with timely, accurate, and safety-critical information throughout incidents.

• Monitor responder activity and maintain awareness of responder locations, assignments, and status.
• Maintain calm, professional and efficient radio communications during emergency conditions.
• Use industry standard calming techniques to separate parties and de-escalate situations prior to the arrival of responders.

• Serve as the primary point of contact between the public and emergency services.
• Communicate with callers professionally, respectfully, and compassionately, particularly during stressful or traumatic situations.
• Participate in Department Community Outreach events.

• Facilitate communication with law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services, emergency management, and other public safety partners.
• Obtain additional resources and coordinate mutual aid when necessary, to support a safe and effective emergency response.
• Civilian staff are permitted to serve on authorized special teams such as Crisis Negotiation, Drones, Incident Management and Peer Support.

• Participate in required training and maintain applicable certifications and qualifications.
• Assist with projects, special events, emergency operations, public education, recruitment, instructing, and other agency initiatives.
• Experienced personnel may be approved to serve in specialized roles such as Communications Training Officer, General Instructor, and instructor for a variety of specialized programs

Why Join Our Team?

Certified Communications Qualifications

• Virginia DCJS Communications Basic certification (or approved out-of-state equivalent)
• Current VCIN certification (or approved out-of-state equivalent)
• Current CPR certification
• Current APCO or Medical Priority Emergency Medical Dispatch certification
• 12-months continuous employment as a public safety tele-communicator

Minimum Qualifications

• 18 years of age
• United States Citizen or lawful resident for ten consecutive years
• High School Diploma or GED
• No more than two moving violations within previous 24 months
• No record of convictions within previous 60 months for DUI, eluding, leaving the scene of an accident or vehicular manslaughter
• No record of 2nd or subsequent DUI
• No current or previous revocations or suspension of license within previous 60 months due to a moving violation
• Not have been convicted of or pleaded guilty or no contest to a felony or any offense that would be a felony if committed in the Commonwealth of Virginia
• Not have been convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to a Class 1 or 2 misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or any offense that would be a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, including but not limited to petit larceny under 18.2-96, or any offense involving moral turpitude that would be a misdemeanor if committed in the Commonwealth of Virginia
• Not have been convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to any misdemeanor sex offense in the Commonwealth of Virginia, another state, or the United States, including but not limited to sexual battery under 18.2-67.4 or consensual sexual intercourse with a minor 15 or older under clause (ii) of 18.2-371
• Not have been convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to domestic assault under 18.2-57.2, or any offense that would be domestic assault under the laws of another state or the United States
• Undergo a physical examination, subsequent to a conditional offer of employment
• Not have produced a positive result on a pre-employment drug screening