Police Telecommunicator - Seasonal at Town of Kernersville (NC), NC

About the Department

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced individual to join our team as a Part-Time Telecommunicator. This position plays a vital role in ensuring effective communication and support for the Kernersville Police Department. Applicants must have at least one (1) year of prior experience as a telecommunicator to be considered for this position. Candidates must also have DCI Modules 1, 2, and 3 certifications or be willing to obtain these certifications during the training phase. Additionally, applicants must be willing to commit to at least 24 hours per week during the training phase and be able to work days, nights, weekends, and holidays as needed. This position performs responsible specialized paraprofessional and technical work in the Communication Center for the Police Department. An employee in this class performs paraprofessional and technical work receiving both emergency and non-emergency telephone calls from citizens and relaying information to police officers via a multi-channel radio system.  The worker also provides information/referrals to the general public and other law enforcement agencies. The employee must have the ability to communicate clearly, to use good judgment, to multi-task and to work in stressful situations. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Communications Supervisor and is checked by observation and by regularly reviewing computer entries and Dictaphone.

Position Duties

• Operates multi-line telephone system. Receives telephone calls from citizens, both emergency and non-emergency; obtains and evaluates information and takes needed action; accesses language line for non-English speaking callers; and operates a TTY and Text-to-911 system for text calls and non-verbal callers. Operates and monitors multi-channel radio system to provide information to police officers; patches multiple agencies together when necessary; dispatches officers to the scene; operates portable walkie talkie; operates mobile dispatch center; uses appropriate codes and signals when dispatching calls; checks status of officers while they are on calls; dispatches alarms when instructed; monitors emergency channel for officer distress and dispatches assistance if needed.
• Enters information on calls in Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) program; enters data as it is received from police officers on the scene; enters stolen vehicles, articles, wanted/missing persons; prepares messages in correct format and updates critical information in database, including business locations and emergency callout information, knox box locations, alarm information, and important alerts regarding the premises.
• Monitors Police Department video security system.
• Maintains database of residential security checks for out-of-town residents.
• Monitors Doppler radar and advises of severe weather.
• Communicates with other dispatchers from local, state and federal agencies in order to send appropriate level of response.
• Uses various law enforcement databases to gather information needed by officers; monitors incoming information from law enforcement agencies through NCIC/DCI; ensures accurate information is entered into database according to rules and regulations; checks for wanted/ missing persons, domestic violence orders, sex offenders, concealed carry permits, stolen property, driver’s licenses, vehicle license plates/registrations, and weapons.
• Assists in training new telecommunicators; records training progress of new hires.
• Operators Dictaphone; researches past phone calls and radio traffic.
• Performs related duties as required.

• Work requires general knowledge of the functions and operations of the Communications Center and its related equipment and capabilities. 
• Employee must have the ability to think clearly and act quickly in emergency situations. 
• Employee must have the ability to control telephone conversations in order to efficiently obtain accurate information to provide correct, understandable instructions to the emergency responders. 
• Employee must be able to receive and efficiently carry out instructions from the emergency responders. 
• Employee must be able to speak clearly and use good diction.  
• Employee must be able to use specialized law enforcement software to enter data and to retrieve information. 

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent. Applicants must have at least one (1) year of prior experience as a telecommunicator to be considered for this position. Candidates must also have DCI Modules 1, 2, and 3 certifications or be willing to obtain these certifications during the training phase. 

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational support functions of standing, walking, reaching, fingering, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions.
• Must be able to perform sedentary work exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
• Must possess the visual acuity to operate a computer terminal, visually inspect small defects or parts, operation or inspection of machines, and do extensive reading.

Other Qualifications

This position is classified as safety sensitive per the Town’s Personnel Policy.