Public Safety Telecommunicators

The work

Core tasks

1. 01Provide emergency medical instructions to callers.
2. 02Question callers to determine their locations and the nature of their problems to determine type of response needed.
3. 03Determine response requirements and relative priorities of situations, and dispatch units in accordance with established procedures.
4. 04Receive incoming telephone or alarm system calls regarding emergency and non-emergency police and fire service, emergency ambulance service, information, and after-hours calls for departments within a city.
5. 05Relay information and messages to and from emergency sites, to law enforcement agencies, and to all other individuals or groups requiring notification.
6. 06Record details of calls, dispatches, and messages.
7. 07Monitor various radio frequencies, such as those used by public works departments, school security, and civil defense, to stay apprised of developing situations.
8. 08Read and effectively interpret small-scale maps and information from a computer screen to determine locations and provide directions.
9. 09Maintain access to, and security of, highly sensitive materials.
10. 10Enter, update, and retrieve information from teletype networks and computerized data systems regarding such things as wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, and stolen vehicles.
11. 11Scan status charts and computer screens, and contact emergency response field units to determine emergency units available for dispatch.
12. 12Answer routine inquiries, and refer calls not requiring dispatches to appropriate departments and agencies.

Capabilities

Essential skills

Employment outlook

Where the role is heading