Public Safety Dispatcher - University Police Department

The University Police Department at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Public Safety Dispatcher.

About the Opportunity

The WVU Police Communications Officer Serves as a support system to maintain the safety and security of the campus community, parents, and visitors in a fast-paced stressful environment. Maintains all inbound and outbound communications for the WVU Police Department and assist surrounding agencies. Provides Investigative, administrative, and field support to the department. Provide non-emergency information services to students, faculty, staff, and the community when requested twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
  
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
  
• 15 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service (employee leave)
  
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
  
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
  
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
  
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

Communications operations

• Collect, process, and disseminate information and data relative to; University Police, Emergency Management, Emergency Medical Services, Parking services, fire/life safety, Environmental Health & Safety and Facilities Management units for all campuses in a timely manner relative to the WVU campus and surrounding communities as they relate to the safety of students, faculty, staff, and the public. Communications Officers will use all resources and training provided to effectively do their job minimizing any liability to the University.
• Maintain contact with WVU parking and transportation, facilities management, Health Sciences Center and roads and grounds personnel. Dispatch calls for custodians, fire control, maintenance, and parking issues.
• Conduct status checks of officers as mandated by department.
• Assess risk level of information received from caller and determine units needed to respond. Prioritizing calls received in order of precedence.
• Handle panicked and high-stressed callers during times of crisis, including but not limited to; suicide threats, missing/lost students, sexual assaults, active shooter situations, and fights in progress.
• Provide officers with pertinent information regarding descriptions of persons, vehicles, etc. as learned and/or gained by using resources available in the Communications Center or as received by caller.
• Utilize mapping software to determine caller's location and ensure proper judication is notified of the incident.
• Transmit and/or receive communications from local, outside agencies and/or the public, noting any hazardous conditions (manmade or natural) and dispatch the appropriate persons to the scene for investigation and the implementation of corrective action.
• Access Siemens Fire Alarm System for all WVU Morgantown Campus Property. Respond with appropriate response during a fire alarm activation.
• Receive incoming calls from all parking gates throughout Morgantown Campus. Raise, lower, and lock gates as according to policy and traffic patterns.
• Communications Officers will act as a welcome service (first point of contact) to visitors, families, and the campus community, providing non-emergency information.
• In the absence of a Lead or a Supervisor, Communications Officers will serve as a CTO (Communication Training Officer) for all new hires, and be responsible to observe & provide training material, and write the new hire's DOR (Daily Observation Report) each day. This report will be tied to their 6-month review to end the probation period.
• Provide alternative transportation information when normal services are not available.
• Possibility of having to testify for grand jury hearings and other court related appointments for criminal trials as needed.
• Communications Officer will be knowledgeable about matters as related to high education including FERPA, Title IX , CLERY, Etc

Emergency response

• Communications Officers will follow written protocol in activating the rapid notification systems: WVU Alert & LiveSafe. WVU Alert alerts mass amounts of people and agencies with a brief message received via email/cellphone. LiveSafe is a web-based application that can use text messages, video, and voice to relay messages to the Communications Office.
• The Communications Officer may have the responsibility of sending an alert message to those who have an account via email or text.
• The Communications Officer is also responsible for monitoring weather conditions and notifying proper authorities and/or sending a weather alert message when special arrangements are in order. This becomes extremely important for roads and grounds and Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) personnel securing areas of potential danger (for example, icy sidewalks).
• Access an emergency call-down list of University Directors and Supervisors in the event of deaths on campus as well as deaths of students off campus.
• The Communications Officer must maintain communication with assisting agencies that are providing support and assistance.
• WVU Police Communications Officers must have a thorough knowledge of the campus, specific operating systems.
• Monitor the Radiation (RMS) and activate emergency protocol if system failure or terrorist breach to minimize exposure causing severe illness and or death.

Phone systems, contacts, protocols, procedures and processes.

• Operate a multiline telecommunications system (VoIP phone), disseminating calls to appropriate personnel, taking messages, transferring calls to the proper division.
• Provide information requested and/or obtain through resources available in the Communications Center and provide proper contact.
• Have two-way communication with all elevators on campus in the event of an entrapment or requests for regular maintenance.
• Maintain accurate list and answer all Blue Emergency phones throughout campus.
• Update and maintain emergency contact information to (include but limited to emergency alert numbers, emergencies involving students, faculty, staff, officers, and campus community, building supervisors, alarm responses.
• Possess knowledge of medical amnesty laws to protect reporting parties to provide aid.
• Update and maintain data bases, including but not limited to, Central Square CAD system (which contains sensitive information regarding personnel, equipment, training, addresses, crimes, reports, warrants, evidence, and other databases), accidents, tows, Triple III's, arrests, incident and found property.
• Perform office duties & legal clerical work to include but not limited to:
• Filing of reports, citations, entry of tickets in Parking Flex, handling cash and credit cards for tows and fingerprint cards, protective orders, warrants, trespassing papers, shift sheets, accident forms, entry and removal forms, waivers and sex offender registry, operate phone system, take messages, customer service, fax, email, scan, compile stat reports, conduct bi-annual incident report audits, serve as a support system for investigations, assist administration and supervisor with assigned projects.

Operating/Monitoring cameras, Software programs, alarms and protocols

• Communications officers are tasked with monitoring multiple camera systems for departments throughout the campus, retrieving video footage when an incident has occurred, accessing cameras when a suspected crime is in progress to ensure the safety of officers entering a scene, and targeting known crime areas.
• Communications Officers will notify the proper department when there is camera failure by conducting monthly audits, maintain operating functions of camera systems located in the Communications Center to include but not limited to, re-booting, checking links locally and by server, generating retention time spans, re-focusing pan camera in designated areas of need.
• Master operations of multiple software programs such as; CS Gold , QVMS, Avtec, Central Square, Avigilon, Lynx Panic Alarms, Parking Flex, 911 hang up, Star-Rez, Omnilert, LiveSafe, Advocate and Radiation Safety alarms, etc.
• Monitor multiple alarm systems such as Job accommodations, Bursar's office, dairy farm, gamma knife, Health Sciences Center. Notify designated contact persons of activated alarms, dispatch officers, maintenance, MECCA and/or the fire department.
• Fingerprinting through digital live-scan machine for employment purposes will be conducted by the Communications Safety officers for WVU and outside agencies.
• Redacting reports that have been court ordered to include but not limited to; fingerprint cards, photos, arrest log, electronic incident database.
• Function as central dispatch for all University when University Emergency Operations Center is activated and performs other related duties as assigned.

Operate the W.E.A.P.O.N.S (West Virginia Automated Police Network System)

• Includes NCIC (National Crime Information System), NLETS (National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System), and CJIS (Criminal Justice Information System).
• Communications Officers conduct background checks for employment and criminal activity. Entering or cause to be entered, missing persons, stolen property, wanted persons, in a nationwide database. This system contains highly sensitive materials regulated by state and federal laws.
• Communications Officers are mandated to ensure the integrity of contents and access to unauthorized persons. Due to security, access to the communications center is limited; communications officers will restrict entry to authorized personnel conducting official business. Audits are conducted by state and federal agencies at random.
• Always requires two CSOs to be readily available to respond to outside law enforcement agencies queries, and requests for information.
• Communications Safety Officers must be certified by the state and re-certify every two years.
• Attend appropriate training classes as required.

In Person Customer Service

• Be the first point of contact to students, staff, and visitors of the University who come into the Police Department
• Provide services such as directions, phone numbers, and general information about the University, and surrounding areas of Morgantown.
• Receive, process and secure monetary transaction related to vehicle tows, and fingerprints.
• Obtain all necessary information needed to provide to an officer, even in times the complaint is in distress (recent sexual assault, stolen property, identity theft, etc.)
• Request documents needed to release impounded vehicles.

Any other assigned duties from either the Communications Manager/Supervisor, OIC or Chief of Police as requested.

Pay Grade: 12

Work Hours: Day/Midnight/Afternoon shifts

• High school diploma or GED
• Experience involving:
  
  
  
  
  • Dealing with the public in a high stress environment.
  • Ability to type.
  
  
  
  
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of computer system applications, real time control systems, radio communications
• Ability to read and comprehend technical documents, such as laws, ordinances, procedures, technical manuals, training
  manuals, computer printouts and police reports.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively coordinate and dispatch safety equipment and personnel.
• Ability to cover all shifts and work extended hours if needed.
• Ability to focus on one task to the exclusion of others.
• Ability to prioritize and multitask.
• Excellent short term and long-term memory.
• Ability to speak clearly and concisely.
• Ability to hear and comprehend multiple communications at one time.
• Ability to make quick, sound decisions based on predetermined criteria and available information.
• Ability to handle stress and display coping skills.
• Demonstrated knowledge of standard radio and telephone communications practices, both transmission and reception.
• Ability to interpret verbal and written instructions.
• Knowledge of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules, regulations, procedures, and practices.
• Ability to accomplish tasks in a controlled environment under stressful conditions.
• Ability to read and interpret maps.
• Ability to develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with co-workers, customers, and other agencies.
• Ability to use multiple keyboards at one time with skill.
• Knowledge of operational policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of supervision and training practices.
• Care of radio, telephone, video, alarm, and computer equipment.
• Print and maintain accurate records via computer systems.
• Prepare written reports and trainee evaluations; recommend training methods for this position.
• Ability to monitor and successfully react to audible intrusion, fire, or trouble alarms throughout campus.
• Ability to maintain emotional control in critical situations.
• Ability to display organizational /administrative skills
• Ability to sit continuously for long periods in a tobacco free environment with minimal breaks
• Ability to react immediately and precisely to sudden stimuli
• Ability to maintain composure when exposed to foul language, graphic photos or video of injuries and or death.

Licenses/Certifications

• Must pass department background check to adhere to State and Government regulations.
• Must successfully complete a pre-employment psychological evaluation before official hire date
• Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) certification as outlined in Chapter 24, Article 6, and Section 5 of the State Code of West Virginia within six (6) months of hire.
• National Criminal Information System Certification within six (6) months of hire.
• First Aid Certification with six (6) months.
• Red Cross or American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certification within six (6) months.
• Field Training: COs will receive 12 weeks of on-the-job training. During this time, they learn physical layout of the campus as well as the specific duties of a CO.
• FEMA NIMs Incident Management training within six (6) months of hire.
• PCI Merchant Training within six (6) months of hire.
• Maintain confidentiality when exposed to extreme sensitive material.

Physical Demands & Physical Coordination

• Employee must sit and or stand for long periods of time in a windowless environment, low temperature, extremely stressful in nature.
• May lift moderate weight.
• Noise level varies from normal to loud. Must adjust to work shift
• Ability to type 35 words per minute effectively.
• Must have excellent hearing and vision.

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.