Police Communications Technician Guide

Key Job Duties

What you will act and execute daily upon appointment:

• Serve as 911 call-takers, receiving and triaging emergency calls from the public to obtain necessary facts and initiate immediate emergency assistance.
• Dispatch police resources and coordinate response units over the department radio network to ensure safe, efficient, and timely incident resolution.
• Review and analyze pictures, videos, and listen to audio attachments sent via 'Text to 911' to assist responding tactical units.
• Type caller information, localized addresses, and incident notes into computerized CAD databases using standard keyboards and console interfaces.
• Perform essential clerical, administrative, and general support tasks within the Communications Section, keeping precise event records and logs.

Filing & Appointment Eligibility

Candidates must fulfill these rules BEFORE certification:

• Pathway 1: A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent PLUS either (a) one year of full-time satisfactory experience performing clerical, typing, or secretarial work; OR (b) one year of full-time experience dealing with the public, including obtaining information from persons; OR (c) completion of 30 college semester credits from an accredited college/university; OR (d) two (2) years of honorable full-time U.S. military service.
• Pathway 2: A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience equivalent to the pathways in Pathway 1, though all candidates must possess a high school diploma or its educational equivalent.
• Medical & Psychological: Candidates must meet established medical and psychological guidelines to determine whether they can perform the role's essential functions.
• Drug Screening: Appointees must pass a mandatory drug screening evaluation in order to be appointed.
• English Requirement: Candidates must be able to understand and be understood in the English language.
• City Residency: According to the official Advisory, New York City residency is not required for this class of positions.

Official Exam Syllabus & Cognitive Skill Focus

Knowledge areas, trade competencies, and cognitive abilities evaluated by DCAS:

Physical Demands & Environmental Conditions

Physical activities performed and environments experienced in this role:

• Sitting for extended periods of time wearing an active audio headset while monitoring a high-brightness computer screen.
• Coordinating speed-sensitive hand-eye movements to operate administrative console dashboards.
• Typing caller incident information rapidly into a standard alphanumeric computer keyboard.
• Listening carefully to decipher high-density emergency calls, often over severe background noise or static.
• Speaking calmly, audibly, and clearly to elicit information and deliver guidance to agitated callers under stress.

Special Working Conditions

Operational environments and agency-specific criteria:

• Rotating Shifts: Required to work various tours around the clock, including evenings, nights, Saturdays, Sundays, and major civil holidays.
• Overtime Demands: Required on occasion to work overtime tours depending on the active emergency needs of the Police Department.
• High-Noise Environment: Sitting and operating communication consoles within close proximity of other active call-takers operating under intense, high-stress conditions.