Public Safety Communications

In an emergency, the first people to answer a 911 call for help are  public safety communications specialists and police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers. These well trained, highly professional individuals send the appropriate type and number of emergency services units in response to calls for assistance and monitor the activity of emergency services personnel at the scene. They work in a variety of settings, ranging from police and fire stations to hospitals or centralized city communications centers.

Elgin Community College offers two certificates which lead to careers as public safety dispatchers or communications specialists. They are ideal for those currently employed in criminal justice who wish to enhance their marketability in the criminal justice field, those seeking working credentials quickly, or adults changing careers.

 ECC's Public Safety Communications Program              

Career's in Public Safety Communications 

Public safety dispatchers work in a variety of primarily urban settings … police stations, fire stations, hospitals, or centralized city communications centers. Openings occur for day, evening, and night shifts and working on weekends and holidays is common. 

Career development path's vary among communication centers. The title of the job position where you choose to work  may be different but the basic description is the same. 

Ideal Candidates

The ideal candidates are enthusiastic, flexible and responsible. They possess:

Ø  Ability to interpret and give both verbal and written instructions;

Ø  Excellent verbal and written communication skills;

Ø  Ability to speak clearly and concisely over the radio and telephone;

Ø  Prioritization skills and multi-task oriented;

Ø  Ability to make sound decisions using all available information;

Ø  Skill to accomplish tasks in a controlled, effective manner while working under stress;

Ø  Ability to develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with co-workers and customers;

Ø  Keyboard skills.

Elgin Community College instructs the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) Basic Level Training Curriculum Public Safety Telecommunicator Training and Standards, 1996, instructed by ILETSB certified instructors with over 90 years public-safety telecommunications experience.

Elgin Community College received a $248,000 federal grant and updated their training facility with SAVE Corporation OMNI-COMM Simulator, Computer Aided Dispatch, 9-1-1, TDD/TTY, call handling guides, and multimedia training material.

Article in the National Emergency Number Associations' (NENA.org) Emergency Number Processional Magazine, September, 2007

Read the article:
Interactive State-of-the-Art Communications Training System Brings Elgin Community College (IL) into the 21st Century 

College of Lake County, Grayslake, Illinois Criminal Justice Institute

Public Safety Telecommunicator/Dispatcher Course
5-day course     8:00 am to 5:00 pm     $499

The critical link between your agency's emergency services and community is the telecommunicator/dispatcher. These vital personnel must be highly trained and motivated. The Public Service Institute has developed this basic course based on the State of Illinois's model for public safety dispatchers.

The 16 topics included:

William Rainey Harper College, Palatine, Illinois

Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate

Curriculum

This 6 credit-hour program is intended to meet the needs of men and women in public safety dispatching roles at the local, state and federal levels and to prepare others to enter the public safety dispatcher career field. This certificate program meets the requirements of the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board (ILETSB) Public Safety Dispatcher minimum standards, Association of Public-Safety Communications Officers, International (APCO) Project 33 Standards for Telecommunicator Training and the National Fire Protection Association NFPA 1061 Public Safety Dispatcher job requirements.