Careers: Police Dispatcher / Police Complaint Officer (911 Call Taker)

Application Period for Miami-Dade Police Department's Police Dispatcher / Police Complaint Officer (911 Call Taker) Positions:
May 6 - May 26

Police Dispatcher

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or GED required.
Fluent in reading, writing, and speaking English.
Be a resident of the United States of America.
Must be able to work rotating shifts including weekends and holidays.
Applicants will be subject to an extensive background check.
As a condition of continued employment, the ability to handle stressful emergency communications associated with the 911 Emergency System will be assessed during the training and probationary period.
Must take, and pass, a computer-based skills and abilities test, which will evaluate the ability to follow verbal and written instructions, decision making, data entry, data entry (audio), cross referencing (audio), prioritization, and multi-tasking skills.
Photo identification is required to take the computer-based skills and abilities test.
Employees must obtain and maintain certification in requisites of Florida Crime Information Center (FCIC).
Employees must obtain and maintain CPR certification through the American Red Cross.
Employees will obtain and maintain a 911 PST Certification from the Florida Department of Health.

This is specialized police work receiving and sending radio transmissions utilizing a digital radio system.
Police Dispatch work requires the operation of two-way radio transmitting equipment to law enforcement personnel. Work involves critical decision making skills, relaying orders and information to and from police personnel, managing radio traffic, and operating computer and telecommunications equipment. Work is performed in accordance with prescribed dispatch procedures and within the scope of Federal Communications Commission regulations and departmental orders.

Supervision is received from a Police Dispatcher Supervisor or Police Sergeant who reviews work for conformance with proper procedures, and confers with employee on unusual or difficult situations.
- Receives calls for service from 9-1-1 Police Complaint Officers (Call Takers), via the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and from field units via radio.
- Utilizes acquired skills, abilities, and judgment to coordinate the direction and placement of field units to strategic locations for critical incidents.
- Prioritizes calls for service, selectively assigning and dispatching of police emergency and non-emergency calls via radio communication technology to Miami-Dade County, municipal, inter-county and federal personnel using the assigned talk groups while monitoring the safety status of all field units.
- Coordinates the movement of multiple law enforcement units engaged in pursuit tactics or responding to life-or-death situations.
- Operates a computer based trunked radio system console to control talk groups and or conventional channels, a dual-screen Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) console, and a FCIC (Florida Crime Information Center) system terminal.
- Coordinates multiple tasks simultaneously, using judgment to make operational decisions based on information regarding available units and calls holding within policy and procedural guidelines while utilizing specialized formats to integrate and prioritize information from all three systems into a coordinated dispatch service for optimal efficiency.
- Reviews pages of various data-based documentation to determine the existence of outstanding pick-up orders, misdemeanor and felony warrants, validity of driver licenses, and the status of stolen vehicles and vessels, vehicle and vessel registrations, firearm permits, occupational licenses, and criminal backgrounds to relay to field units.
- Maintains detailed knowledge and records of BOLO (Be On the LookOut) information and the diversified configurations of daily personnel line-ups, work schedules, court times, assigned areas of patrol, specialized patrol responsibilities, and procedural differentiations for each district.
- Performs minor maintenance tasks associated with the position, for example, resetting computerized dispatch systems, preparing malfunction reports for radio frequency or equipment repairs, and related work as required.
- Knowledge of modern law enforcement practices, procedures, and methods.
- Ability to learn radio transmitting techniques and procedures as applied to the dispatch of mobile units.
- Ability to learn departmental regulations pertaining to the dispatch of law enforcement personnel.
- Ability to learn the roadways and municipal boundaries of Miami-Dade County.
- Ability to make swift, logical decisions and judgments based upon knowledge or prior experiences.
- Ability to comprehend and carry out oral and written instructions.
- Ability to react quickly and calmly during stressful, emergency radio communications.
- Ability to communicate effectively with police personnel by means of a two-way radio system.
- Ability to keep written and computer records.
- Ability to speak clearly on police radios, using proper grammar.
- Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Skilled in computer data entry.
- Ability to train new employees and pass along new information or procedures and techniques to co-workers.

Police Complaint Officer (911 Call Taker)

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or GED required.
Fluent in reading, writing, and speaking English.
Be a resident of the United States of America.
Must be able to work rotating shifts, including weekends and holidays.
Applicants will be subject to an extensive background check.
As a condition of continued employment, the ability to handle stressful emergency communications associated with the 911 Emergency System will be assessed during the training and probationary period.
The ability to remain calm during stressful situations.
Must take, and pass, a computer-based skills and abilities test, which will evaluate the ability to follow verbal and written instructions, decision making, data entry, data entry (audio), cross referencing (audio), prioritization, and multi-tasking skills.
Photo identification is required to take the computer-based skills and abilities test.
Employees will obtain and maintain certification in requisites of FCIC (Florida Crime Information Center).
Employees will obtain and maintain certification through the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch.
Employees will obtain and maintain CPR certification through the American Red Cross.
Employees will obtain and maintain a 911 PST Certification from the Florida Department of Health.

This is specialized police work receiving and screening telephone calls in a communications center utilizing a computerized telephone system.

Police Complaint Officers are responsible for the accurate, rapid and effective evaluation of and response to telephone calls for information and emergency requests for police and fire assistance. Work is performed in accordance with prescribed law enforcement procedures and departmental regulations; however, independent judgment is exercised in determining the scope of dispatch for police and fire units. Supervision is received from a shift supervisor who reviews work for conformance with proper procedures and who confers with the employee on unusual or difficult calls.

Police Complaint Officers also perform minor maintenance tasks associated with the position, for example, resetting computerized dispatch systems, preparing malfunction reports for telephone or equipment repairs, and related work as required.
- Receives telephone calls from the public relative to the reporting of accidents, crimes, disturbances of the peace, suspicious persons, emergency illnesses and fire related emergencies, and a variety of unusual incidents.
- Evaluates the need for police assistance by determining the exact nature of the incident, geographic location, governmental jurisdiction, and, if required, priority code to be used in dispatching units to the scene.
- Operates computerized telephone equipment, utilizing numerous software programs to sort information aiding in dispatch procedures.
- Receives and answers requests for information from other law enforcement agencies, ambulance companies, hospitals, automobile wreckers, and the general public.
- Originates orders to police and fire dispatchers which will result in the dispatch of police and/or fire personnel to the desired location.
- Telephones automobile wrecker companies to request removal service at the scene of traffic accidents.
- Performs related work as required.
- Knowledge of modern law enforcement practices, procedures, and methods.
- Knowledge of the proper legal functions of governmental agencies sufficient to answer or redirect citizen inquiries.
- Knowledge of departmental regulations pertaining to complaint and dispatch activities.
- Knowledge of the roadways and political boundaries of all of Miami-Dade County.
- Ability to comprehend and carry out oral and written instructions.
- Ability to react quickly and calmly in emergencies.
- Ability to communicate effectively with the general public by means of the telephone.
- Ability to speak clearly.
- Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Skilled in the operation of a computer keyboard.
- Ability to train new employees and pass along new information or procedures and techniques to co-workers.

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