Salary: $19.45 - $31.14 Hourly Location : Dothan, AL Job Type: FULL TIME Job Number: 259-25-01 Department: POLICE Opening Date: 02/18/2025 Closing Date: 3/3/2025 11:59 PM Central Description Click here and take the to see if this is the career path for you. Candidates may promote to a Communications Officer after one (1) year of continuous successful experience. Written Exam for the position of Public Safety Calltaker and Communication Center tour are scheduled for 03/20/2025 This position is responsible for assisting in answering emergency and non-emergency calls and for dispatching appropriate personnel. Major Duties
- Receives and screens incoming calls from the public and other user agencies; categorizes and prioritizes calls, including 911 calls.
- Determines and dispatches the appropriate emergency personnel to incident locations; provides emergency medical instructions to callers prior to the arrival of responders as needed.
- Receives and processes non-emergency calls; forwards to appropriate department; receives and processes after-hours complaints from the public.
- Inquires, retrieves, and monitors data from ACJIC/NCIC database; ensures compliance with rules and regulations; retrieves information related to outstanding warrants, criminal histories, driver histories, vehicle histories, etc.; disseminates information related to criminal histories, driver histories, terrorist threats, felon registration, sex offender registration, lost or stolen items, missing persons, etc.
- Maintains contact with emergency personnel in the field; provides information to responding units regarding location, directions, changes to circumstances, etc.; responds to information requests from responding units.
- Provides pre-arrival instructions to callers in compliance with Emergency Medical Dispatch guidelines.
- Coordinates assistance from other agencies and/or departments as requested, including contacting other agencies for response to specific situations.
- Operates telecommunications equipment, including radios, telephones, CAD, mapping systems, telecommunications devices, weather monitoring equipment, etc.
- Monitors and utilizes non-emergency radios as needed.
- Monitors security cameras.
- Completes required training and obtains and maintains appropriate certifications.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED BY THE POSITION
- Knowledge of emergency communications principles and practices.
- Knowledge of ACJIC/NCIC policies and procedures.
- Knowledge of emergency dispatch procedures.
- Knowledge of radio and telecommunications equipment.
- Knowledge of CAD system functions and maintenance.
- Skill in the use of computers and job-related software programs.
- Skill in making decisions in high pressure and emergency situations.
- Skill in public relations.
- Skill in interpersonal relations.
- Skill in oral and written communication.
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS The Communications Supervisor assigns work in terms of general instructions. The supervisor spot-checks completed work for compliance with procedures, accuracy, and the nature and propriety of the results. GUIDELINES Guidelines include ACJIC/NCIC guidelines, state and federal regulations, HIPPA regulations, general orders, APCO policies training guidelines, medical controls, and city and department policies and procedures. These guidelines are generally clear and specific but may require some interpretation in application. COMPLEXITY/SCOPE OF WORK
- The work consists of related emergency communications duties. The necessity of responding to unforeseen and emergency situations contributes to the complexity of the work.
- The purpose of this position is to assist in the receiving of emergency and non-emergency calls and in dispatching emergency service personnel as appropriate. Successful performance contributes to the efficient and effective response to emergency and life-threatening situations.
CONTACTS
- Contacts are typically with department personnel, other city personnel, representatives of other emergency services agencies, hospital and other medical personnel, representatives of a variety of external agencies, and the general public.
- Contacts are typically to give or exchange information, resolve problems, provide services, and motivate persons.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ WORK ENVIRONMENT
- The work is typically performed while sitting at a desk or table.
- The work is typically performed in a Communications Center.
SUPERVISORY AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY None. Minimum Qualifications
- Graduation from a standard senior high school or GED equivalent, as recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) or Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA); and
- Must be at least 19 years of age.
- Recent experience as a Public Safety Cadet or Intern with the Dothan Police Department preferred.
CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT/PROMOTION/DEMOTION/TRANSFER The City of Dothan's Police Department will administer a polygraph examination to anyone hired/promoted demoted/transferred into the Police Department. The examination will be a question and answer test that covers areas of your background, including but not limited to your employment application, employment history, and involvement in criminal activity, such as thefts and domestic violence, drug usage and participation in the distribution of illegal and legal prescription medications. NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Must maintain information confidentiality throughout employment.
- Must obtain and maintain APCO Public Safety Telecommunicator I (PST1)
- Must obtain and maintain American Heart Association Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- Must obtain and maintain APCO Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD)
- Must obtain and maintain National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Criminal Justice Information Center (ACJIC) certifications.
- Must obtain and maintain APCO Communications Training Officer (CTO) certification.
- Must obtain and maintain Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) training on Southern Software Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), Southern Software Records Management System (RMS), Southern Software Mapping Data System (MDS), Motorola Emergency Communications System ECS-1000, Emergency CallWorks (ECW) 9-1-1 equipment, and Public Safety Radio Training/Experience in actual radio transmission environment.
- Ability to type a minimum of 30 net words per minute with a minimum of ten (10) errors. A typing test will be administered at the time of application (See City of Dothan's Typing Test/Retest Policy).
- In an emergency and/or standby situation, an employee in this position must be able to report to his/her regular workstation in a maximum of 30 minutes from the time of notification. (Sec. 2-30. (2) / PBA 1/9/95) This requirement must be met within six (6) months of employment/promotion/ demotion/transfer. (See Condition for details.)
- Employees must be able to work any shift or days of the week.
- An applicant for this position is subject to various background investigations up to and including a criminal, credit, past employment, and reference checks.
- Employees are required to submit to Drug and Alcohol testing in accordance with the City of Dothan policy, which includes pre-employment and random tests for the duration of employment in this position. (PBA 08/13/12).
- Must meet the City of Dothan's employment physical standard, which includes drug/alcohol testing.
Application / Examination Qualified applicants will be evaluated based on training and experience as documented on their application. This evaluation will comprise 35% of the final grade. The written exam will comprise the other 65% of the final grade. Written examination for the position of Public Safety Calltaker and Communication Center tour are scheduled for March 20th, 2025. Email notification inviting you to self schedule your slot for the written exam will go out at a later date. You MUST self schedule your slot or you will not be allowed to test. The content areas of the written examination, for the position of Public Safety Calltaker, include the following: Oral Communication Vocabulary Analytical Ability and Map Reading Ability to Perform Dispatching Work Reading Comprehension You will be allowed two (2) hours for completion of the examination. Once the examination begins, you will not be allowed to leave the room until you have completed the examination. NOTE: An applicant on vacation is responsible for attending the examination on the date scheduled. An applicant falling under federally protected leave (i.e., FMLA, USERRA) is responsible for notifying the Personnel Department in writing no later than the closing date by emailing
[email protected]. Please advise us at the time of application if you will need assistance and/or accommodation to take this examination by emailing An Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer The City of Dothan provides a diverse package of benefit programs:
- Vacation: 12 Vacation Days per calendar year
- Holidays: 12 Paid Holidays per calendar year
- Medical and Dental Insurance: Offered through Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Alabama. Rates vary based on coverage selected
- Retirement Plan: Administered through the Retirement Systems of Alabama
- Life Insurance: Administered through Unum Life. No cost for eligible employees
- Military Leave: up to 21 working days per calendar year with Military Orders
- Direct Deposit: Employees may elect to have their payroll check deposited directly into their bank account
- Employee Health Clinic: Industrial Nurse on duty for work related injuries and minor illnesses Other benefits include: Cafeteria plan, Credit Union, Deferred Compensation plans, Employee Assistance Program, Physical Fitness Program, Jury Duty Leave and more..... Note: All benefits are subject to eligibility requirements. Individuals are responsible for any related fees or charges that may apply.
01
Supplemental Questions: This information will be used to determine your placement on the employment register and if you meet the basic qualifications as listed on the job posting. Therefore, please give detailed descriptions of your job duties. You must thoroughly complete the Education and Work Experience sections of the application and the Supplemental Questions. Answer all questions as accurately and with as much detail as possible. Some questions request an explanation to support a yes answer. Your explanation should contain experience, education, etc., to show that you do possess whatever skill, knowledge or experience being addressed in the question. Employment and volunteer experiences used to answer any of the questions below must be listed on your application. If you use military experience to meet the experience requirements, do not give dates of your entire tour of duty, rather, you should indicate on your employment application, the month and year you began performing these duties and the month and year you stopped.
- I have read and understand the above statement and will submit any required verification or supporting documents by the closing date of this advertisement.
02 Which best describes your highest completed level of education?
- None
- High School Diploma or GED
- Associate's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree or higher
03 Which best describes your work experience as it relates to the duties of a Public Safety Calltaker?
- No experience
- 0 - 0.9 year
- 1 - 1.9 years
- 2 - 4.9 years
- 5 - 9.9 years
- 10 - 14.9 years
- More than 15 years
04 List
employer/s where you gained the experience
in question #3. Employer(s)
must be listed in both the work history section of your application and in your response below to receive credit. If none, type N/A in the space below.
DO NOT INDICATE SEE RESUME. 05 List
examples of duties performed to support your answer
in question #3. Employer(s)
must be listed in the work history section of your application to receive credit. If none, type N/A in the space below.
DO NOT INDICATE SEE RESUME. 06 Which best describes your work experience as it relates to your average daily call volume?
- None
- 0 - 50 calls per day
- 51 - 100 calls per day
- 101 - 250 calls per day
- 251 - 400 calls per day
- 401 - 500 calls per day
- More than 500 calls per day
07 List
employer/s where you gained the experience
in question #6. Employer(s)
must be listed in both the work history section of your application and in your response below to receive credit. If none, type N/A in the space below.
DO NOT INDICATE SEE RESUME. 08 List
examples of duties performed to support your answer
in question #6. Employer(s)
must be listed in the work history section of your application to receive credit. If none, type N/A in the space below.
DO NOT INDICATE SEE RESUME. 09 Which best describes your work experience
WITH THE CITY OF DOTHAN?
- Public Safety Cadet
- Intern (with the Police Department)
- None
10 Check each of the following that you have completed: *In order to receive credit, you must submit a current copy of your certification/course/license
by the closing date of this advertisement. You may fax it to (334) ###-####, submit by mail or in person to the City of Dothan, Personnel Department, 126 N St. Andrews Street, Room 116, Dothan, AL 36303, or by email to
[email protected].
- Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Public Safety Telecommunicator I (PST1) Course
- American Heart Association Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Course
- Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Course
- National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Certification
- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) Criminal Justice Information Center (ACJIC) Certification
- Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Communications Training Officer (CTO) Course
- None
11 Check each of the following Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) training you have completed: *In order to receive credit, you must submit a current copy of your certification/course/license
by the closing date of this advertisement. You may fax it to (334) ###-####, submit by mail or in person to the City of Dothan, Personnel Department, 126 N St. Andrews Street, Room 116, Dothan, AL 36303, or by email to
[email protected].
- Southern Software Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD)
- Southern Software Records Management System (RMS)
- Southern Software Mapping Data System (MDS)
- Motorola Emergency Communications System ECS-1000
- Emergency CallWorks (ECW) 9-1-1 Equipment
- Public Safety Radio Training/Experience in actual radio transmission environment
- None of the above
12 Are you at least 19 years of age?
- Yes, I am or will be age 19 by the application deadline.
- No, I am not at least 19 years of age.
13 In an emergency and/or standby situation, an employee in this position must be able to report to his/her regular workstation in a maximum of 30 minutes from the time of notification. (Sec. 2-30. (2) / PBA 1/9/95) This requirement must be met within six (6) months of employment/promotion/demotion/transfer. Are you willing to meet this requirement?
14 This is to certify that I have read and understand the Condition of Employment form and Certification of Understanding of Employment/Promotion/Demotion/ Transfer for this position with the City of Dothan, Alabama. Click here Failure to check I Agree/Understand discontinues the application process. (A signed form will be requested at time of hire, promotion, transfer or demotion.)
- I Agree/Understand
- I Disagree
15 Are you willing to work weekends, holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, and other major personal events?
16 Are you willing to work in a highly stressful environment on a daily basis?
17 Are you willing to deal with crisis calls, such as when a child has died or a police officer/fire fighter is injured, yet set it aside and continue to calmly and professionally deal with an irate citizen complaining of a minor parking matter, all within a five minute time frame?
18 Are you willing to work 8-hour shifts, with short breaks every two hours and no specific lunch time period, keeping in mind that the breaks may not be at times you prefer?
19 Are you comfortable having all your 911 and non-emergency calls recorded and available for court cases, media releases, and the public?
20 Are you willing to commit to an intense training program that takes up to one year and requires satisfactory completion?
21 Are you willing to read, study, and apply several hundred pages of material from several different manuals, listen to lectures, and take written tests on a regular basis during training and throughout your career?
22 Are you willing to work any of the following shifts and remain on that shift for up to six months while training? Day shifts 0600-1800 or night shifts 1800-0600.
23 Are you willing to work irregular shifts during training periods? For example, you might work a day shift for a month, move to graveyard the next month, and then go to swing shift for the next month. You would also be changing days off with each shift change.
24 Are you willing to accept last minute changes to your work schedule, including mandatory overtime, which might require you to cancel personal plans?
25 Are you willing to work in an environment which exposes you to angry, emotional or upset individuals or to individuals who use profanity?
26 This position requires you obtain certification and maintain recertification by
ACJIC/NCIC (Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center).Are you willing to obtain and maintain this certification?
27 This position requires you successfully complete the
Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Public Safety Telecommunicator I (PST1) course per department standards and requirements.Are you willing to successfully complete this course?
28 This position requires you obtain certification and recertification the
Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) course per department standards and requirements.Are you willing to obtain and maintain this certification?
29 This position requires you obtain certification as an
Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Communications Training Officer (CTO). Are you willing to obtain and maintain this certification?
30 This position requires you obtain certification and recertification in
CPR. Are you willing to obtain and maintain this certification?
31 Since the age of 18, have you been convicted of a crime or any offense other than minor traffic violations or do you currently have charges pending against you?
32 This position requires you pass a polygraph examination. Are you willing to submit to a polygraph?
- Yes, I am willing to take a polygraph test.
- No, I am not willing to take a polygraph test.
33 An applicant is required to successfully pass a
Typing Test with a minimum score of 30 net words with a maximum of ten (10) errors. The typing test must be on file
no later than March 10th, 2025.Typing tests are administered at the Personnel Department, 126 N. St. Andrews Street, Room 116, Dothan, AL 36303, M-F, 8am - 4pm.
- I will take the typing test and submit results prior to the deadline.
- I have a typing test on file with City's Personnel Department as required.
- I will not take the typing test therefore I will NOT be allowed to take the written exam and I will not be considered for this position.
34 This position ALSO requires a
written exam that will be administered
March 20th, 2025 .If you meet the qualifications and pass the typing test, you will be emailed an invitation to self schedule for the written exam.
You MUST self-schedule in order to take the written exam. - I understand and I WILL SELF-SCHEDULE by the deadline in order to take the written exam for this position.
- I will not self-schedule therefore I will NOT be allowed to test and I will not be considered for this position.
35 I understand that once my application has been submitted for
this specific position that
I WILL NOT be able to make any changes to it. Any changes to my master application will only be reflected in any future positions for which I may apply.
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Note: Before submitting your application, be sure to review your application for completeness and accuracy. Your examination score will be based on the information you have provided on your application and this supplemental questionnaire. Failure to provide sufficient detailed information may result in your application being rejected or receiving a lower score. Therefore, it is important that you provide complete employment information to include the name of your employer, your official job title, dates of employment (from-to, month/year), hours worked per week, and a detailed description of your duties for each job listed on your application.
Resumes are not accepted in lieu of the application or supplemental questionnaire.
- I understand that failure to provide sufficient detailed information may result in my application being rejected or receiving a lower examination score.
37 Personnel Use Only Required Question
