Public Safety Communications Officer I

The City of Alexandria is located in northern Virginia, and is bordered by the District of Columbia (Potomac River), Arlington, and Fairfax counties. With a population of approximately 150,000 and a land area of 15.75 square miles, Alexandria is the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Alexandria has a charming waterfront and is a unique and historic place to live and work. About one-quarter of the City's square miles have been designated as a national or local historic district. We proudly embrace our rich history and seize the endless opportunities that lie ahead. If you are interested in working for the vibrant City of Alexandria, we invite qualified candidates to apply for a position as a Public Safety Communications Officer I (PSCO I).

An Overview
The PSCO I serves as the first line of communication with the public for emergency and non-emergency telephone calls. The position involves answering emergency phone calls, ranging in nature from noise complaints to serious crime reports. PSCO's receive, categorize and monitor calls and dispatch radio communications to Police, Fire and/or EMS units. This is a high-tension, high-stakes position that requires quick thinking, first-rate customer services, sound judgment and the ability to maintain composure. Work hours include various shifts, weekends and holidays.

What You Should Bring
Strong, clear and efficient verbal and written communication skills are fundamental to this position. You should have the outstanding ability to work with the public and maintain excellent relationships within the department and City. Because PSCOs operate Computer-Aided Dispatch software, a thorough understanding of technology is necessary for this job. A strong knowledge of the city's geography and the ability to read maps well can also serve as extremely helpful skills for the PSCO I. These public safety professionals need a thorough understanding of police terminology, policies, regulations and procedures, much of which will be learned upon hiring via thorough department-provided training.

The Opportunity

• Operates automated calling system to answer, screen and process incoming calls for services;
• Enters call information into the Computer-Aided Automated Dispatch System and monitors the response of Police, Fire and EMS units;
• Provides information to the public and law enforcement agencies within departmental guidelines;
• Provides caller with life-saving instructions until assistance arrives;
• Transfers or directs callers to the appropriate personnel, department or to other law enforcement agencies;
• Documents events with all pertinent information received;
• Contributes to team training efforts, including the development and evaluation of new personnel;
• Maintains work environment and equipment in a safe and clean condition at all times;
• Assists with training activities, logs, reports and data analysis;
• Performs related work, as required.

About The Department of Emergency Communications
The Department of Emergency Communications (DEC) ensures the effective delivery of routine and emergency calls for service to the City of Alexandria public safety departments. Our highly trained staff of professionals always strives to provide the best service possible to the public. Our employees are the most dedicated you will find anywhere, going above and beyond the call of duty to serve.

Minimum & Additional Requirements

High School Diploma or GED; United States citizen or legal resident alien of the United States (The Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN) requires all persons defined as a terminal operator to be a United States citizen or have been a lawful resident of the United States for the past ten (10) consecutive years prior to applying for certification).

Preferred Qualifications

One-year experience as a Public Safety Communications Officer or equivalent experience in Public Safety Communications.

Notes

This position requires the successful completion of pre-employment checks and medical testing including but not limited to a criminal history records check, fingerprinting, drug screening, vision and hearing exam, psychological and polygraph testing, as well as position-specific competency and aptitude screening.