What-Comm Public Safety Telecommunicator in Training
- One year of experience in a position with intensive public contact.
- Keyboard entry skills at a minimum of 40 wpm net.
- Experience or training in the use of computer software such as word processing, spreadsheets, database management, desktop publishing programs or other business/educational software preferred.
- Experience using multi-line phone systems preferred.
- Previous experience in public safety dispatching preferred.
- Must acquire within first year of training a working knowledge of the geography of Whatcom County to include: cities and towns, locations and names of highways, main streets, major buildings and businesses and establishments such as names of parks.
- An individual in the What-Comm Public Safety Telecommunicator in Training position will move to the What-Comm Public Safety Telecommunicator I position in a non-competitive promotion upon successful completion of the initial training period and demonstrated proficiency in performing the call receiving function independently.
- Successful completion of the initial training period and demonstrated proficiency in performing the call receiver function independently.
- An individual in the What-Comm Public Safety Telecommunicator I position will move to the What-Comm Public Safety Telecommunicator II position in a non-competitive promotion upon successful completion of the Public Safety Telecommunicator I training period and demonstrated proficiency in independently operating all dispatch consoles as well as performing the call receiving function.
- Successful completion of the Public Safety Telecommunicator I training period and demonstrated proficiency in call receiving and operating all dispatch consoles independently.
- Employment contingent upon passing a criminal convictions check, background investigation, polygraph examination, and fingerprinting. Subject to re-check every five years.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain ACCESS Level 2 and CJIS Level 3 certification within six months of hire.
- Must obtain and maintain Telecommunicator 1 & 2 certifications within twelve months of hire.
- Must pass a hearing evaluation prior to hire.
- Employment contingent upon passing a pre-employment drug test. (This position is considered a safety sensitive position; therefore, the pre-employment drug test includes testing for cannabis. Positive test results will exclude an applicant from being hired).
- Must have a regular form of communication such as a land line telephone or a cell phone and the willingness and ability to respond to mandatory recall to duty.
- Willingness and ability to work rotating shifts covering 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.
Are you a confident, enthusiastic, motivated individual who wants to make a difference in your community? Do you want to perform meaningful work in a positive and supportive team environment? If you’ve worked with the public or have call center experience, this is a great opportunity for you to expand your career. Apply now for one of our What-Comm 911 Telecommunicator positions. Qualified candidates are safety oriented, skilled at decision making, problem solving, and conflict resolution. What-Comm 911 Telecommunicators will be required to have the ability to work independently to support and assist both the department and the public.
Applicants interested in this position must complete testing through Public Safety Testing. Please visit the Public Safety Testing website (www.publicsafetytesting.com) for information regarding the testing process.
A Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST) receives and processes voice, text and multimedia requests for police, behavioral health, fire, and medical emergency response. The incumbent in this position determines the nature, urgency, and jurisdiction of a report and either dispatches public safety personnel and equipment to respond or transfers the call to the appropriate jurisdiction. The PST enters information from the reporting party and responding units into a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) software program and continually updates the status of those responding to the incident via radio, CAD, and phone communication. The PST provides guidance and assistance to the public in life-safety situations; and coordinates appropriate responses to high-risk, high-stress operations, with the objective of keeping all participants safe. The What-Comm Emergency Communication Center (ECC) serves as the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for Whatcom County. This position is essential and must report to work during times when the City is closed.
What-Comm Public Safety Telecommunicator in Training
This is the entry-level position for new PSTs during their training period. A new hire will go through a structured training program to learn What-Comm policies and procedures for handling emergent and non-emergent calls as well as other agency, department, and dispatch center protocols.
What-Comm Public Safety Telecommunicator I
A PST in Training will promote to PST I when they successfully complete the initial training period and can independently perform emergency and non-emergency call receiving.
What-Comm Public Safety Telecommunicator II
A PST II is distinguished from the PST I position by the ability to independently operate all dispatch consoles as well as perform emergency and non-emergency call receiving.