Being a Public Safety Telecommunicator can be a challenging and rewarding career. During any given shift, between 13 to 16 Telecommunicators, including 2 Supervisors cover the call-taking and radio positions. Telecommunicators work as a team.
The Work Schedule
The workday is eight and a half hours each.
4 days on followed by 2 days off
Every 5th and 6th week we work four 10 hour days.
We have partial rotating shifts
Days to evenings
Every set of four we rotate between days and evening
There is a permanent night shift.
Trained, Certified & Sworn Telecommunicators
Telecommunicator Academy
All Norfolk Public Safety Telecommunicators are required to successfully complete the mandated 80-hour Commonwealth of Virginia's Dispatcher School. Our Academy exceeds the requirements by an additional 104 hours of school.
Certified
Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD)
National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Virginia Criminal Information Network (VCIN)
Sworn Telecommunicators
Upon completion of the Telecommunicator Academy and in compliance with Virginia State code they are given an oath by the clerk of the City of Norfolk and become sworn to serve in the capacity of Emergency Service.
Additional Training
In addition to on-going in-service training, and to remain on the leading edge of the ever-changing environment of public safety communications our Telecommunicators may attend regional, state, and national meetings.
