Police Dispatcher

Company: City of Fairfax Police Department

Location: —

Clearance Required: None

Salary: —

Description

Requirements

Police Dispatcher

Please check out our job section for the current openings.

As civilian employees of the police department, dispatchers work in the Emergency Communications Center and often serve as a citizen’s first point of contact with the department. A career as a police dispatcher is challenging, interesting and highly rewarding. You will have an opportunity to work with sworn police officers on a daily basis in solving crisis situations, assisting citizens and fellow department members and ensuring that communication between citizens and officers in the field flows efficiently and effectively.

Police dispatchers respond to requests for information or police services received through the 911 emergency calls, routine telephone calls and from citizens who come to police headquarters. These requests can range from emergency situations needing immediate police service, such as a report of a burglary in progress, to providing a citizen with directions to a local business. The City of Fairfax utilizes a Computer Aided Dispatch System to facilitate communication, simplify reporting in the field and maintains required records. Police dispatchers also process requests from other police departments and government agencies.

Dispatchers provide officers with a wide variety of support services, such as conducting wanted person checks by computer through state and national law enforcement computer networks, conducting driver’s license and vehicle registration checks by computer with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, communicating with other area police communications centers to obtain necessary information and countless other vital services.

Does this sound interesting? Here are the basic requirements for employment as a police dispatcher with the City of Fairfax:

• You must be a high school graduate or have a GED.
• You must be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years of age.
• You will be required to submit written documentation from the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC) certifying that you can type at 30 WPM or better. You can take a typing test at any VEC office, including the Fairfax, Manassas, Alexandria and Sterling offices. Your VEC certification must be less than one (1) year old.

Can I Do This Job?

No one can be expected to walk into a job such as police dispatcher and immediately be knowledgeable and proficient in all aspects of the job. The police department has a complete training program to ensure your success as a police dispatcher.

During training you will be paired with an experienced police dispatcher who will serve as your training officer. Your training officer will help you with everything from learning the layout of the facilities to learning how to use the computer systems. As soon as an opening is available, you will be enrolled in the Emergency Police Dispatchers School at the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy. As with all of the other training, there is no cost to you. Once you graduate from the academy you will continue with your internal training under the supervision of your training officer. Once you and your training officer feel comfortable with your level of training and proficiency you will be fully certified and join the ranks as a regular member of the police dispatching team. After your basic certification, you will also receive periodic job-related training courses, and you are encouraged to apply to take related courses at the police academy.

Want Some More Information?

Summary of Salary and Benefits for Police Dispatchers

The City of Fairfax strives to ensure that the salary and benefits offered to its employees are competitive with other local governments in the region. Below you will find information about base salaries, annual and sick leave, and health care. This information provides only a general overview, and you should keep in mind that City Administrative Regulations and Ordinances are the controlling authority in these areas. If you have specific questions, you should feel free to contact the city’s Personnel Office by calling 703-385-7939 or by visiting the following link.