EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS (DISPATCHER)


The Houston Police Department is hiring qualified Senior Police Telecommunicators. Our Police Telecommunicators provide a vital link between our police first responders and the great citizens of Houston. Often called the "nerve center" of police operations, our Senior Police Telecommunicators assigned to the department's Emergency Communications Division are the initial first responders, receiving calls from the Houston Emergency Center and dispatching emergency personnel.

No prior telecommunicator or law enforcement experience is required. Upon employment, you will receive training and obtain your TCOLE telecommunicator' s license. You will receive specialized training from some of the finest and most professional telecommunicators in law enforcement.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Two (2) years of Customer Service experience.

SUBSTITUTION
Forty-eight (48) semester hours of college credit, in any area of study, from an accredited college or university may be substituted for two years of experience.

OR
Completion of an approved Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) curriculum Telecommunicator licensing course from an accredited college or university may be substituted for two (2) years of experience.

  • Requires a high school diploma or a GED
  • Two (2) years of customer service experience or telecommunicator experience in an emergency communications facility are required
  • 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 and Enforcement (TCOLE) guidelines
  • Must be able to demonstrate proficiency on a PC keyboard test (40 WPM) and pass all City administered written tests.
  • Applicant must pass a hearing, psychological evaluation and polygraph test

Common Disqualifiers

  • No Class A or Felony convictions or court-ordered supervision or probation
  • No Class B conviction or court-ordered supervision or probation within the past 10 years
  • Former military personnel must not have been convicted of any court-martial higher than a summary
  • A dishonorable or other discharge based on misconduct which bars future military service
  • $21.00 - $27.59 Hourly - Factors used in determining the salary offered include the candidate's qualifications as well as the pay rates of other employees in this classification
  • Medical, Dental and Vision coverage
  • Life Insurance (Basic and Voluntary)
  • Health Flexible Spending Plan
  • Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan
  • Long-term Disability coverage (for certain employees)
  • Supplemental Insurance Programs
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Only online applications will be accepted for this City of Houston job and must be received by the Human Resources Department during active posting period. Applications must be submitted online at: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/houston/jobs/3046497/senior-police-telecommunicator-sptc

To view your detailed application status, please log-in to your online profile by visiting: https://agency.governmentjobs.com/houston/default.cfm or call (713) 308-1220.

If you need special services or accommodations, call (713-308-1220). (TTY 7-1-1)

If you need login assistance or technical support call 855-524-5627.

Due to the high volume of applications received, the Hiring Department will contact you directly, should you be selected to advance in our recruitment process.

All new and rehires must pass a pre-employment drug test and are subject to a physical examination and verification of information provided.


EEO Equal Employment Opportunity

The City of Houston is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.

How do I apply to become a Senior Police Telecommunicator (Police Dispatcher)?
Confirm that you meet all of the requirements, then click on Application Process in the menu bar on the top of the page.

Do I need prior dispatch experience in order to apply?

No prior experience is necessary. What the applicant must be able to show is a stable work history that shows reliability, honesty, good work ethics and the ability to adapt to a changing environment.

What do Senior Police Telecommunicators get paid?

$21.00 - $27.59 Hourly

What skill do I need to be a Senior Police Telecommunicator position?

Police dispatchers need to be able to stay calm under pressure. Many of the situations are stressful; so the dispatcher needs to be able to offer reassurance and have excellent communication skills to ensure they are understood.

What is the hiring process for the Senior Police Telecommunicator position?

  1. Submit an online application
  2. Pass an online examination
  3. Pass an oral interview
  4. Be able to type 40 words per minute
  5. Pass a thorough background investigation
  6. Pass a polygraph examination
  7. Pass a psychological evaluation
  8. Pass a drug test

What does the online test consist of?

The online examination consists of thirteen individually timed tests with their own set of instructions and is timed separately. The test covers keyboarding, Data Entry MT (Audio), Call Summarization I, Call Summarization II, Cross Referencing (Audio), Character Comparison, Memory Recall, Memory Recall - Numeric (Audio), Prioritization, Map Reading, Spelling and Reading Comprehension.

Are there any material/resources I can obtain to prepare myself for the online examination?

Because the tests measure general abilities, there is no study guide or reading list for this test. However, there is an examinee guide that CritiCall 911 has made that you can review at: https://criticall911.com/dispatcher-testing/applicants

What hours do police dispatchers work?

The Houston Police Department operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Sr. Police Telecommunicators are assigned to an 8-hour shift with two consecutive days off.

Is a police dispatcher a stressful job?

Working as a police dispatcher can be stressful as it involves dealing with members of our community in traumatic and troubling situations. Some callers will be in life-threatening situations and it is important for dispatchers to remain calm and respond appropriately regardless of the circumstances.

How long does it take to become a Sr. Police Telecommunicator?

In order to serve as a public safety telecommunicator in the state of Texas, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) requires that a telecommunicator must complete specific training and pass a state exam. Please refer to the TCOLE website for further details at https://www.tcole.texas.gov/