Communications Officer

The purpose of this position is to serve as a vital support network for the Bellaire Police and Fire Departments and serves as a front-line contact and liaison for residents needing emergency and non-emergency services. Screens incoming calls, coordinating and relaying information, and speaks with public safety personnel, and maintains various logs and paperwork.

• Monitor and operate emergency and non-emergency service telephones and radio communications systems, including emergency 911 and general non-emergency, to Police and Fire Departments, emergency medical services, and other city personnel within the city of Bellaire

1. Perform multiple tasks simultaneously; takes appropriate action when presented with a stressful life and death situation
2. Enters dispatching information into computer designating the the field units that are in or out of service to ensure the information on available officers is readily available
3. Assigns and broadcasts all fire and EMS calls according to priority to the nearest available field units to respond
4. Calmly negotiates, advises, and otherwise communicates with callers to gather necessary and accurate information and provide pre-arrival instructions for emergency medical calls, maintains knowledge of current emergency medical dispatch practices
5. Organizes vital information to enter a call for service and forward calls to appropriate departments and personnel, prioritize calls, assign proper codes, and coordinates appropriate public safety response
6. Receives and relays all information from the field to appropriate personnel to ensure all necessary equipment is readily available
7. Monitors the status and location of all public safety units
8. Provides responding units with pertinent information to ensure the safety of officers and civilians and informs field officers of major incidents, hazardous situations, or locations where such information will be beneficial to prevent injuries to officers

• Receives and notifies others of police-related information to and from other police divisions or agencies to ensure information is communicated promptly
• Operate and monitor local, state, and national crime information computer systems including Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunication System (TLETS), The International Justice and Public Safety Network (NLETS), Texas Crime Information Center (TCIC), National Crime Information Center (NCIC), Access Control Integration, Security and PSIM Solutions (OSSI), to assist public safety personnel in performing their duties
• Data entry for all calls for service and other events as required

1. Data entry and information retrieval from programs to include amber alerts, silver alerts, email, excel spreadsheets, word documents, computer-aided dispatch, records management system, jail management system, and mobile data computers
2. Maintain electronic and paper logs of law enforcement status and activity related transactions to provide daily dispatching documentation at the close of each shift
3. Complete other pertinent reports as assigned

• Work with computerized mapping systems and online and printed maps and directories to locate and identify field sites
• Coordinate testing of the civil defense system and reverse-notification emergency warning system

1. Monitor interior and exterior camera systems
2. Monitors weather conditions as necessary
3. Sends public safety notifications via Everbridge

• Attends and participates in all mandated trainings, workgroups, and staff development and training activities to enhance skills and develop job skill knowledge 
• Contributes to team effort by performing other related duties as assigned

• US Citizenship required per Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE)
• Documentary evidence of graduation from an accredited high school or successful completion of the General Educational Development (GED) Test
• Six (6) months experience in customer service or other direct customer contact work
• Keyboarding 35 wpm
• Training and experience using a personal computer with a variety of software, including Microsoft Office
• Experience with shift work

Appointment will be conditional upon successful completion of the following pre-employment checks:

• Communications dispatcher performance test measuring the ability to receive, retain, and process emergency information. If selected to test, you will be notified via email 
• Criminal background check including, but not limited to job history, education, criminal history, and driving record
• No conviction, guilty plea, court-ordered community supervision, service, or probation, or deferred adjudication for any criminal offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor or a Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years from the date of the court order
• During last ten (10) years, has not been convicted, plead guilty, been on community service, probation or deferred adjudication for an offense above the a Class B misdemeanor in this state, other state within the last ten years, or while serving in the military
• No convictions of family violence or placed on community supervision in any court of an offense involving family violence as defined under Chapter 71, Texas Family Code
• Controlled substance screening
• Physical examination including hearing test
• Applicants must have the ability to obtain the following certifications within the first year of employment:
• Must provide certification of successful completion of, or complete within one (1) year of employment a telecommunications-training program in compliance with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) guideline
• Texas Crime Information Center (TCIC)
• National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
• Emergency Fire Dispatcher (EFD)
• Emergency Medical Dispatch Certification EMD
• Available transportation for work-related duties