COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Citrus County Sheriff's Office 

STARTING PAY RATE: $20.06/hour

JOB TYPE:             Full-time, 12 hour rotating shifts as assigned, weekends and holidays required.

JOB LOCATION:     Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Lecanto, FL

REPORTS TO:         Communications Manager

JOB SUMMARY/PURPOSE: The Communications Officer receives emergency and non-emergency phone calls, providing information and assistance, dispatching law enforcement, EMS and fire personnel when necessary.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Receives emergency and non-emergency phone calls, determines the nature of the call, and obtains and transfers pertinent information to the appropriate personnel or agency.
• Differentiates between emergency and non-emergency calls and prioritizes calls for service.
• Intakes caller information and provides assistance to the caller.
• Dispatches law enforcement, EMS, and fire personnel when necessary.
• Provides appropriate resource materials in a timely manner.
• Utilizes emergency procedures to ensure officer safety.
• Utilizes the Medical Priority Dispatch System, the Police Priority Dispatch System, and the Fire Priority Dispatch System
• Maintains required certifications (i.e. FCIC, PST, and CPR) and the LAED standards for Continuing Dispatch Education.
• Accurately tracks, monitors, and documents all unit’s activities.
• Requests and/or responds to other agencies for assistance.
• Operates the FCICII/NCIC computer and/or CAD Open Query to mandated standards.
• Performs radio tests and notifications.
• Informs superiors and staff of events, activities and critical issues.
• Completes all assignments as directed.
• All Citrus County Sheriff's Office employees are considered ‘essential emergency workers’ and are subject to working in any capacity/hours deemed necessary by the Agency during activations, including but not limited to, in-County and out-of-County deployments.

REQUIRED EDUCATION:

• High school Diploma, GED, or equivalent certification of competency.

REQUIRED TRAINING (Provided by Employer):

• Minimum 160 hours for the first radio training.
• Completes the Public Safety Telecommunications Program, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD), Emergency Police Dispatch (EPD), Emergency Fire Dispatch (EFD), Florida Crime Information Center certification (FCIC), and the State of Florida 911 Public Safety Tele-communicator Program.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Ability to operate communications related equipment/computers.
• Working knowledge of codes, signals and plain talk.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to convey verbal information/instructions/directives/commands in a clear, concise and intelligible manner.
• Handles stressful situations.
• Problem solving skills.
• Team skills demonstrating respectful attitudes.
• Excellent questioning skills.
• Knowledge of geographical jurisdiction.  
• Excellent organizational skills. 
• Ability to learn and reference procedures, policies, and other reference materials.
• Proficiency in keyboarding equivalent to 25 wpm.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

•  Intermittent periods of intense, focused, and demanding conditions.
•  Works with all types of people and personalities.
•  Occasionally exposed to volatile individuals, and/or disgruntled citizens.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Occasionally lifts up to 25 lbs.
• Requires sitting for long periods of time, speaking, walking, stooping, reaching, and writing.
• Requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination in preparing reports using a computer keyboard.
• Requires near and far vision for reading.  
• Acute hearing is required when providing phone service.

PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS:

• Demonstrates a polite, helpful and courteous behavior, respecting cultural differences, when   interacting with the public and colleagues.
• Responds to supervision, guidance and direction in a positive, receptive manner.
• Must be appropriately dressed and groomed.
• Reports to work promptly and properly prepared.
• Acts in a professional manner, following established protocols and procedures.  

CONTACT: Human Resources at (352) 341-7429 or humanresources@sheriffcitrus.org for more information.

Citrus County Sheriff's Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V. All hires, transfers, and promotions are made without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, religion, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.
Drug-Free Workplace