State of Maryland

A Police Communications Operator Trainee is the trainee level of communications work in a law enforcement operation.  Employees in this classification provide services to law enforcement and other authorized agencies through the operation of computer terminals and multi-channel police radio equipment. Employees in this classification do not supervise other positions.

Employees in this classification receive close supervision from a Police Communications Supervisor or other designated official on an assigned shift.  Employees may be assigned to day, evening, night or rotating shifts to include holidays and weekends and are subject to call in and overtime based on staffing needs.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Police Communications Operator Trainee, Police Communications Operator I, Police Communications Operator II and Police Communications Operator III are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Police Communications Operator Trainee and Police Communications Operator I perform duties under close supervision.  The Police Communications Operator II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.  The Police Communications Operator III performs lead worker functions under general supervision.

Learns to operate emergency communications equipment, computer workstations and software packages;

Learns to receive and transmit information via multi-channel radio, telephone and computer terminal equipment;

Learns to monitor, collect, organize and analyze reports of emergency incidents on a statewide and regional basis which may affect Maryland public safety and public safety personnel;

Learns to request or provide information regarding traffic records, statistics, driver’s license and automobile registration;

Learns to complete daily incident reports, noting any key issues or trends that should be brought to the attention of the shift supervisor or road personnel;

Attends all required classes, seminars, workshops and other educational opportunities designed to maintain or enhance emergency analyses and communication skills;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of map reading and map interpretation;

Skill in multi-channel radios, keyboards and computer terminals;

Ability to learn emergency response communications equipment and systems to include interoperable communication systems used in responding to emergencies;

Ability to learn to obtain, prioritize and disseminate information under stressful conditions;

Ability to learn to clearly communicate information with others at regional, State and local levels concerning the response to emergency incidents;

Ability to learn to complete and maintain logs, reports and databases of emergency response communications work;

Ability to type accurately at a minimum of twenty words per minute;

Ability to communicate precisely and clearly in emergency situations;

Ability to remain calm and respond appropriately in stressful situations.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: None.

1. Applicants for this classification may be subject to an extensive background investigation prior to appointment.

2. Employees in this classification will be required to provide the employing agency with a telephone number where they can be reached.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit B- Administrative, Technical and Clerical classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial, and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining. Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.

Employees in this classification are eligible to receive overtime compensation.  An employee who works more than the normal workweek is entitled to be compensated for that overtime, as provided by the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 8-305.

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance level in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series, an employee must: 1) perform the main purpose of the class, as defined by the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2) receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification and 3) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.