Public Safety Telecommunicator - Tucson - Oro Valley, AZ

Description

Salary: $45,451.00 Annually
Location : Oro Valley, AZ
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 25/
Department: Police Department
Opening Date: 07/30/2025
Closing Date: Continuous
POSITION SUMMARY
Oro Valley Police Department (OVPD) continuously accepts applications for Lateral Public Safety Telecommunicators. Interested applicants are encouraged to complete an on-line application. Hiring processes are conducted when OVPD has an employment vacancy, as well as, enough Lateral Public Safety Telecommunicator applications to run a competitive process. During these periods, applicants will be contacted and asked to complete a separate background packet.
IIf you have any specific questions about the position or the process please contact Mitch Olive at or
To be considered a Lateral Public Safety Telecommunicator you must: Currently be employed as a Police Dispatcher and preferably have two years of continuous police dispatching experience. Experience will be considered on a case by case basis.
For candidates who have two or more years of experience in a Public Safety Telecommunicator position, you will receive a signing bonus of $5,000.01 paid in three installments. The first installment will be paid at the completion of FTO, the second will be paid after completion of the probationary period, and the final payment will be paid after completion of the second year with a rating of successful or higher. At the start of employment, you will receive 80 hours of administrative leave and 80 hours of sick leave.
ACJIS certification or ability to complete one within 6 months. Desirable qualifications are Spillman CAD experience and Vesta E911 Phone System experience.
DISQUALIFICATION STANDARDS
1. Participation in any serious crime, or any behavior, which OVPD, in its sole discretion, deems serious or inappropriate.
2. Any misdemeanor conviction involving narcotics, drugs, marijuana which OVPD in its sole discretion deems serious, excessive or inappropriate.
3. Since the age of 18, not have been convicted of domestic violence.
4. Any illegal use of opiate narcotics, hallucinogens, and/or other dangerous drugs (Includes LSD, PCP, Peyote, Mescaline, Codeine, heroin, morphine, opium, psilocybin, cocaine, hash, speed, "X" or Ecstasy, barbiturates, etc.) which OVPD in its sole discretion deems serious, excessive or inappropriate.
5. Any history of disregard for traffic laws with such frequency so as to indicate disrespect for traffic laws and a disregard for the safety of other persons on the highway.
6. Negligence in maintaining financial responsibility.
7. Failure to follow Application & Background instructions.
This position is skilled emergency service work that involves receiving emergency 911 and non-emergency requests for police assistance, determining nature/urgency of calls, initiating police or other emergency personnel action and maintaining close contact with field units to monitor response and needed support requirements.
The position of Public Safety Telecommunicator requires a considerable degree of initiative and independent judgment within procedural boundaries in responding to emotional, disturbed and sometimes abusive people in a variety of situations. Work may be done separately or in conjunction with other Public Safety Telecommunicators and Public Safety Telecommunicators may assist in training, teaching and basic operational equipment management. The position of Public Safety Telecommunicator requires rotating shift assignments and overtime in accordance with maintaining a fully operational 24 hour facility.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Receives and responds to emergency and non-emergency calls including enhanced 911, and non-emergency calls from the public, dispatchers, and law enforcement agencies via telephone and radio systems and computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems;
• Processes and evaluates information received, prioritizes calls and dispatches required units and/or agencies;
• Monitors and coordinates police unit activity and assignments via police radio frequencies;
• Maintains status and locations of public safety personnel;
• Utilizes technology such as computers, radio systems, telephones, fax machines and other communication equipment;
• Creates and maintains automated or manual logs of public safety communications activity;
• Accesses and enters sensitive data in local/state/national databases as necessary for investigative purposes;
• Enters and maintains files for persons or property pending apprehension/recovery;
• Maintains appropriate security and confidentiality of information created or encountered in the performance of assigned duties;
• Keeps informed of departmental regulations, policies and procedures;
• May assist in providing on-the-job training for Public Safety Telecommunicators and submit progress reports and evaluations on trainees.
• Regular and reliable attendance; Shift work may be required to include nights, weekends, and holidays.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Knowledge of applicable Town, state and Federal statutes, rules, ordinances, codes, regulations governing dispatching.
• Knowledge of Town and Department policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of law enforcement records keeping activities and techniques.
• Skill in operating computers and related communication equipment utilizing a variety of software and operating systems/applications.
• Skill in quick decision making and correcting emergency situations.
• Skill in assessing, analyzing, identifying and implementing solutions to complex problems.
• Skill in verbal and written communication.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• A high school diploma or GED.
• Two years (preferable) of continuous police dispatching experience.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work is performed in an indoor environment.

The Town of Oro Valley is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. The Town does not discriminate in the provision of employment opportunities, benefits or privileges; create discriminatory work conditions; or use discriminatory evaluative standards in employment if the basis of that discriminatory treatment is, in whole or in part, the person's race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability status, gender, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, genetic information or marital status.
Why Apply
Oro Valley is a planned community cradled in the shadows of the magnificent Santa Catalina Mountains, with hiking trails through Catalina State Park, hiking and bicycle trails throughout the Town, world-class golf courses, horseback riding and a long-valued cultural tradition, vibrant for over a thousand years. Oro Valley has received many accolades through the years and is proud to have been named: Best Places to Live in Arizona, Best Towns for Families and Best Places in America to Live and Launch a Small Business.
Oro Valley is located in northern Pima County, just three miles north of Tucson, and a quick drive to the University of Arizona and Tucson International Airport. With average high temperatures of 83.4 degrees, average lows of 53.8 degrees, the town sits at an elevation of 2,640 feet, covers more than 34 square miles and has a current population of 41,011. Oro Valley was incorporated in April, 1974. Oro Valley is also quickly developing a strong reputation as home to the emerging bioscience and biotech industries. We are a young, diverse, dynamic community with a responsive government and our schools are among the finest in Arizona.
The Town of Oro Valley has a council/manager form of government. Six council members and the mayor are elected for four-year terms. The town manager is appointed by town council. The Town of Oro Valley provides high-quality services including: police, planning, zoning, construction, inspection, transit services, traffic engineering, street maintenance, storm water management, flood control, water utility, parks, recreation, aquatics, library, cultural resources, economic development, constituent services, community and media relations, budget development, debt and investment management, attorney services, magistrate court and more.
Town of Oro Valley currently has a benefits program that is currently offered to employees of the Town who work 20 or more hours per week on a regular basis. (Part-time employees working at least 20 hours per week may qualify for participation in the individual plans, dependent upon the specific terms of coverage.) Please click on the following link to get a full description of all the benefits that the Town of Oro Valley offers.
Town of Oro Valley Benefits Guide 2025/2026
01
Do you have a High School Diploma or GED?

• Yes
• No

02
Are you currently employed as a Public Safety Telecommunicator and have two years (preferable) of continuous police dispatching experience?

• Yes
• No