Communications Dispatcher I

Job Description

Salary: $52,031 per year The purpose of this position is to perform radio communication dispatch and administrative duties for the Police Department. Duties and responsibilities include communicating effectively with officers, several police agencies and the city and county fire departments and maintaining their status to ensure safety; answering multiple telephone lines and dispatching as required; providing the general public with information and assistance; maintaining a variety of records and files through computer database entries; and executing administrative assignments. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Monitors multiple radio frequencies often while answering/handling phone calls or other radio frequencies and responding to in-person requests for police services or records, monitors LINK/NCIC teletypes and CAD screen.
• Communicates effectively and coherently over law enforcement and fire radio channels initiating and responding to calls; issues case numbers; notifies others, such as ambulances, wreckers, cabs and utilities, when services are requested/required.
• Answers multiple telephone lines; handles 911 calls within the Bowling Green Police Department jurisdiction or transfers calls to appropriate agency; handles other calls appropriately; operates telecommunications device for the deaf and updates call lists; directs callers to appropriate agency.
• Takes and relays messages to officers or other divisions such as drug enforcement unit or operations unit; contacts various other departments to resolve problems such as street lights being out, downed street signs, and power outages; tracks information such as street closings, controlled burns, alarm testing, and similar problems.
• Maintains officers' and fire unit status of activities at all times to ensure safety of the officers and firefighters including working accidents, fires, hazardous incidents and breaks; performs pager/ radio knock out tests for the city and county fire departments.
• Enters data into NCIC/LINK and/or in-house computer for WCSD, BGPD, CAO and District and Circuit Court Clerks' Office; modifies, locates, maintains and saves files in database; responds to NCIC/LINK teletypes and hit confirmations.
• Performs computer background checks on applicants and criminals; checks records for stolen pawn shop tickets; 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 police officers; handles and must keep confidential sensitive information.
• Processes emergency protection and domestic violence orders by receiving, checking, logging, entering into the computer, filing and maintaining all records; processes and rechecks service requests; prepares warrant and EPO lists.
• Provides the general public with directions and referrals, answers citizen complaints and concerns and other information requested regarding the community or situation.
• Prepares briefing sheets for next shift; sends, acknowledges and logs teletypes; runs and disseminates weekly county fire reports and other reports as requested.
• Maintains wrecker service log for accidents, arrest impounds and illegally parked or abandoned vehicle calls and vehicle fires; logs arrest information.
• Performs general administrative duties as replenishing various forms; making copies; maintaining copy machine and printers; forwarding information to various departments; signing out keys; and filing reports, teletypes and other records.
• Attends training courses and professional organizations as offered by the Department or as required by law to maintain LINK/NCIC certification, remain informed of departmental operations, and promote improved job performance.
• Cooperates with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and its officers or representatives when their activities or investigations are related to on-going investigations being conducted by the Bowling Green Police Department; works to achieve the highest level of cooperation and efficiency possible; displays professional demeanor.
• Monitors surveillance video cameras, monitors access to building after hours through remote entry.
• Maintains computer aided dispatch database, obtains and updates locations, dialer file, businesses, emergency contact information, and caution notes; reports CAD information errors to supervisor for correction.
• Runs county fire reports from CAD; activates COWS/CAVS warning system in case of severe weather or other emergency; monitors radio alert buttons for BGPD, WSCO, BGFD and Drug Task Force.