***The City of Alpharetta is currently offering a sign on incentive to candidates who successfully complete the hiring process, $15.000.00 to Georgia State Certified candidates with 3 full years or more experience and $10.000.00 to Georgia State Certified candidates with at least 1 full year experience ***
Under general direction of Communications Shift Supervisor, receives and evaluates calls from the public concerning crimes, fires, and medical emergencies. Specific duties include evaluating calls for proper action; initiating Police and/or Fire response by obtaining information required for dispatching field units; and entering data into a computer as it is being received. In absence of shift supervisor, acts as work leader.

• Acts as work leader in absence of shift supervisor and coordinates work activities and ensure adequate coverage and provide technical expertise.
• Conducts training for new communications officers; prepares daily/monthly observation reports regarding officers in training and/or on probation; recommends retention/release of personnel based on training progress.
• Ensures departmental compliance with all applicable codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures; initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or violations.
• Receives direction from shift supervisor regarding communications activity. Provides guidance and technical expertise to communication officers; assists with major incidents or complex situations.
• Receives, screens, processes, and monitors emergency 911 calls and non-emergency calls from the public and other police/public safety agencies by radio, telephone and computer-aided dispatch (CAD); evaluates, categorizes, and prioritizes calls; confirms jurisdiction of requests; directs callers to other agencies as appropriate; takes/relays messages for department employees or other departments.
• Dispatches appropriate agency personnel to incident locations; determines nature of emergency, location of incident, number of units needed, and nearest units; dispatches law enforcement units, ambulances, fire fighters, wreckers, utility crews, medical examiner, helicopter emergency services or others as appropriate.
• Maintains communications with all parties involved in emergency situations; monitors status/location of emergency units; monitors safety and welfare of officers; assists emergency personnel in locating addresses; conveys information between callers and emergency personnel, general public, public safety agencies, utilities, businesses, department personnel, or other individuals/agencies; responds to requests from officers for backup, emergency units, information, or other assistance.
• Notifies appropriate personnel of necessary maintenance/repair of equipment and facilities.
• Communicates with adjoining shifts to gather/exchange information on call activity, problems, special situations, or other areas requiring attention; ensures pertinent information is conveyed to each shift in the absence of shift supervisor.
• Communicates with supervisor, other officials, employees, other departments, callers, law enforcement personnel, fire personnel, emergency medical personnel, medical facilities, court officials, utility companies, wrecker services, outside agencies, vendors, the media, the public, and other individuals as needed to exchange information review/resolve problems, coordinate operations/activities, receive direction or provide recommendations.
• Assists in response to complaints and questions related to department operations; and forwards to shift supervisor for problem resolution.
• Responds to requests from law enforcement personnel for license plate, driver’s license, criminal history, warrant, missing/wanted person, stolen property, or other information; transmits information to inquiring officers via radio/telephone; obtains/provides background information requested by certified personnel for purposes of employment, court, firearm licensing, or military background checks.
• Operates national/state criminal information computer systems to retrieve/update criminal information and motor vehicle/license records; locates, runs inquiries, and enters updates on data such as criminal histories, warrants, driver’s license records, stolen property, or missing/wanted persons with 100% accuracy.
• Monitors all GCIC messages received and transmitted via the CJIS Network including but not limited to inquiries, entry, clear and hit confirmation of hot files.
• Reviews and validates NCIC/GCIC entries of persons and property to ensure 100% accuracy.
• Tests equipment and makes minor repairs on same or notifies supervisor when/if major repairs are required. Changes tapes on recording of radio traffic and telephone calls as needed.
• Notifies road department and other institutions of severe weather conditions and special instructions if necessary.
• Prepares end of shift report in absence of supervisor as well as responds to open records requests for both printed and electronic media from department personnel or outside persons or entities in accordance with policies set forth by department and Georgia Open Record Act.
• Ensures monthly shift training requirements are met by shift personnel. Attends monthly meetings involving training, continuing education and proposals for change and assists in incorporating amendments to their assigned shift.
• Participates in the DRC (Dispatch Review Committee); a monthly meeting to review the emergency dispatch protocols and how to best enhance the protocols to increase 911 center performance 
• Performs other duties as required or assigned.

Knowledge of:

• The Police and Fire Department organization, procedures, and operating policies.

• Local geography, including: main streets and their hundred blocks, relative distance between streets, City boundary limits, sectors and beat areas, and fire response districts.

• The IAED Emergency Dispatch protocols.

• The CAD formats and commands pertaining to the 911 operator, fire dispatcher, and police dispatcher.

• The geography, equipment, and procedures of other jurisdictions that Alpharetta has contracted with to provide fire/emergency medical dispatch procedures;

• Mutual and automatic aide agreements with surrounding agencies; and dispatch procedures for air ambulance companies.

• Modern principles and methods of supervision, management, organization, administration, and personnel management.

• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations and department rules, policies, and procedures.

• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases.

• Public safety radio broadcast and monitoring equipment

• NCIC/GCIC (National Crime Information Center/Georgia Crime Information Center) systems including policies, regulations, and security procedures involved with CJIS (Criminal Justice Information System).

Ability to:

• Review dispatch of fire/police calls, listen to incoming phone information, and assimilate spoken information from dispatchers.

• Inspire self-confidence in subordinate personnel and new employees in training.

• Review tapes to evaluate emergency and life-threatening calls to determine training needs, ascertain, training effectiveness, and to monitor compliance with established standards.

• Remain calm under pressure, exercise good judgment and make sound decisions quickly in emergency situations.

• Exercise initiative in the improvement of Communications Center operations.

• Supervise, train and evaluate subordinate employees.

• Scan eight or more computer monitors rapidly in order to select pertinent information.

• Shut out extraneous information from other radio channels and coworkers, while selectively listening to information recognized as crucial.

• Type and enter data accurately at a speed necessary for successful job performance.

• Work rotating shifts, weekends, holidays and overtime, as required.

• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationship with Communications employees and supervisors, police and fire personnel, and callers.

• Read maps and plan routes.

• Use internet for research purposes.

• Interpret and read appropriate weather and radar maps.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential functions of the job qualifies.

• High school diploma or GED equivalency.

• Two years of responsible experience and/or training that includes emergency dispatching, public safety dispatching and radio communications, and basic supervision.

• College level course work or vocational training in public safety dispatching and radio communications is desirable.

• Must be a United States citizen.

• Must possess:

• Valid Georgia P.O.S.T. Communications Officer Certification

• GCIC Terminal Operator Certification

• IAED Emergency Dispatcher Certifications 

• Communications Training Officer Certification or equivalent

• Possession of a valid Georgia Class C driver’s license. 

Physical Demands

Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting and operate office equipment. Continuous sitting and upward and downward flexion of neck; fine finger dexterity; light to moderate finger pressure to manipulate keyboard, equipment controls, and office equipment; pinch grasp to manipulate writing utensils. Frequent side-to-side turning of neck, walking, standing, bending, stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting at waist; moderate wrist torque to twist equipment knobs and dials; lifting objects weighing up to 20 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 50 yards. Occasional squatting, kneeling, and reaching above and at shoulder height; moderate grasping to manipulate reference books and manuals; lifting objects weighing 20-35 lbs. from below waist to above shoulders and transporting distances up to 50 feet.

Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents and to operate equipment. Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors and visual cues or signals.

Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction as outlined in NENA standard NENA-STA-007.2-214.

Sensory: Ability to tolerate sudden/alarming/unexpected sounds, such as alarms, office equipment operation, drawers/doors closing, and other unpredicted office environment sounds.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.