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 twelve and half hours each.
3 days on followed by 2 days off
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.
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.