[Adopted 12-19-1975 (Ch. 25, Art. XXVII, of the 1974 Code); amended in its entirety 4-25-1996 Ord. No. 96-26]
There is hereby created the position of Public Safety Telecommunicator for the Township of Lacey.
The duties of the Public Safety Telecommunicator, under direction, shall include but not be limited to receiving and responding to telephone or other electronic requests for emergency assistance, including law enforcement, fire, medical or other emergency services, and/or dispatching appropriate units to response sites. The Public Safety Telecommunicator shall also perform related work as required.
To be appointed to the position of Public Safety Telecommunicator, an individual must meet the following requirements:
A. 
Possess one year experience in work involving the receiving, transmitting and relaying of video display and/or radio messages and in the receiving, relaying and recording of complaints and requests for emergency assistance, which shall have included the use of video display, data processing, automatic number identification, automatic location identification, switching equipment or other computer-oriented equipment. Appointees to positions at Public Safety Answering Points and at some Public Safety Dispatch Points must have received training and certification by the Office of Emergency Telecommunications Services (OETS) in the Department of Law and Public Safety as required by N.J.A.C 13:81-2.
B. 
Possess a driver's license valid in the State of New Jersey, only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
C. 
Possess the knowledge of:
(1) 
Methods for operating communications systems, organizational lines of communication and types, disadvantages and advantages of available communications systems.
(2) 
Information required for documenting emergency situations and calls and procedures used for emergency medical treatment.
(3) 
Functions of the operating units or departments within the agency or jurisdiction.
(4) 
Emergency medical, fire, police and other emergency terminology and procedures for dispatching emergency and nonemergency equipment and personnel.
(5) 
Security procedures involved in the dissemination of information and procedures for investigating and resolving complaints.
(6) 
Emergency management procedures and established safety procedures and guidelines.
(7) 
Geography and street locations of the community served.
D. 
Possess the ability to:
(1) 
Operate automatic location identification (ALI), automatic number identification (ANI) and other communications equipment in a complex communications program, including a computer aided dispatch (CAD) system and answer voice and TTY/TTD (telecommunications devices for the deaf) telephone calls received from the public.
(2) 
Learn the purpose and operation of various law enforcement and other information systems and the Statewide 9-1-1 Enhanced Emergency Telephone System.
(3) 
Provide and relay clear and accurate instructions, questions and guidance to callers in emergency situations and interact with people who are in differing situations.
(4) 
Establish goals and set priorities, work independently and as part of a team, take accurate and complete messages and understand, remember and carry out oral and written instructions.
(5) 
Comprehend, interpret and evaluate relevant information from various types of source materials, as well as obtain and analyze facts to reach logical conclusions.
(6) 
Read and discern visual images on a variety of media and apply existing call codes to emergency situations.
(7) 
Organize assigned communications work and develop appropriate work methods in accordance with established procedures.
(8) 
Obtain information from physically or emotionally distressed individuals and decode call locations using appropriate equipment and road maps.
(9) 
Recognize incorrectly transmitted messages, codes or error input and ensure that calls are sent accurately and promptly, as well as maintain the confidentiality of information received.
(10) 
Collect information from both English-speaking and non-English-speaking individuals.
(11) 
Count and add and subtract whole numbers and prepare reports and statistical data and keep accurate records.
(12) 
Make entries to the NCIC and SCIC and maintain those records in current condition.
(13) 
Comprehend and apply basic law and regulations, including the laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures of the Federal Communications Commission and of the New Jersey State Office of Emergency Telecommunications Services.
E. 
Possess the ability to read, write, speak, understand or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
F. 
Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
The salary for the Public Safety Telecommunicator shall be determined from time to time by the Township Committee and shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of the Salary Ordinance of the Township of Lacey.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 103, Salaries and Compensation.