Salary: $27.42 - $39.29 Hourly
Location : Police Department - 700 West Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, IL
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 00277
Department: Police Department
Division: Community Support Services
Opening Date: 06/01/2026
Job Summary
The City of DeKalb is accepting applications to fill current openings for Telecommunicator!
The Telecommunicator receives, analyzes, classifies, prioritizes and responds to calls of an emergency and non-emergency nature, including those calls involving life-threatening situations.
POSITION CONTEXT:
The position of Telecommunicator is assigned to the Community Support Services Division of the Police Department and works under the direct supervision of the Communications Coordinator. The position is a full-time position represented under AFSCME and requires the Telecommunicator to work a forty-hour work week. The position will require shift work including evenings, weekends and holidays. The position works under extremely stressful situations and must maintain confidentiality at all times. There is extensive contact with the general public and City employees in-person and through electronic mediums.
This position is classified as an emergency response position and will require residency within fifteen (15) months from the completion of the probationary period. Residency requirements are required based the Telecommunicator residency map found at Appendix "D-1" of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The starting rate is $27.42 per hour. Please click here to view the AFSCME Collective Bargaining Agreement & Wage Schedule.
Initial review of applications will begin June 17, 2026. The position will remain open until filled.
Essential Functions
- Receives all incoming emergency and non-emergency calls for police and fire departments, in addition to after-hours calls to City Hall.
- Receives emergency calls for service from multiple sources including an NG9-1-1 system, text-to-911, video-to-911, video relay services, social media, and alarm reporting integrations.
- Operates a multi-channel computerized radio communication console with multiple computer terminals including phone and radio systems to obtain, enter, dispatch, transmit and maintain information and calls for service.
- Monitors other local police and fire radio frequencies as well as additional Municipal frequencies.
- Accurately enters relevant information and updates notes into police and fire calls for service and in accordance with established procedures operates a computer-aided dispatch system.
- Prioritizes and sequences calls promptly in limited time utilizing law enforcement, fire and EMS protocols with limited or no supervision.
- Initiates emergency phone tracing using specialized procedures for landline and mobile phones.
- Assigns calls to police and fire units for necessary action, determining the appropriate units required for response. Coordinates, when necessary, with patrol and fire supervisors regarding deployment of personnel.
- Operates multiple systems across six to eight monitors. Visually monitors closed-circuit television security cameras in and around the City and the Police Department.
- Monitors and/or operates generator and fire alarm panels.
- Maintains contact with all units on-duty and on assignment; maintains records of activity for all field calls and units dispatched; assigns and coordinates backup personnel as required and issues status checks for safety on responding units.
- Provides pre-arrival police, fire and EMS instructions to callers reporting crimes or medical emergencies in-progress.
- Provides supplemental information to officers and field personnel expeditiously, including but not limited to warrants, vehicle responses, driver's license status, and parole, gang, sex offender and other criminal history information.
- Interprets or clarifies coded responses from various systems for law enforcement, including confirmation of warrants and other types of hits while maintaining paperwork and updating or entering records into LEADS/NCIC as applicable.
- Utilizes language interpretation services and coordinates with mental health resources for appropriate contacts with callers who have mental health or language barriers to receiving help.
- Provides information and assistance to the walk-in public.
- Maintains extensive interaction with the general public requiring professional and timely responses.
- Reports equipment malfunctions and dangerous/hazardous conditions to the appropriate authority.
- Monitors and sends citywide alert notifications.
OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Appears and testifies in court as necessary.
- Performs a variety of record keeping, filing, departmental documentation, indexing and other tasks as assigned. Maintains a variety of logs relating to first responder activities.
- Responds to public and internal inquiries over the telephone and in-person. Refers to appropriate staff as needed.
- Conducts research utilizing local, state, federal and national crime databases for required information.
- Completes special projects, and other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
- Knowledge of principle practices and public safety operations.
- Ability to quickly learn and retain public safety and technology training material.
- Ability to use electronic mediums for communication.
- Ability to handle confidential/sensitive matters in a professional manner.
- Must have strong verbal and written communication skills and the ability to understand and follow complex verbal and written instructions.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while exercising good judgment and initiative.
- Ability to learn, apply and maintain knowledge of departmental rules, regulations, policies and procedures and information pertaining to law enforcement and fire dispatch.
- Ability to type a minimum of thirty-five (35) words per minute.
- Ability to develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with all levels of staff, management, residents and the general public.
- Ability to maintain professional composure when confronted by stressful situations and take reasonable action when confronted with difficult situations.
- Ability to gather data, analyze information and prepare reports as needed.
- Ability to accurately compute logistical staffing and apparatus needs.
- Ability to multi-task and work under pressure with interruptions and within short timeframes.
- Ability to work various shifts, holidays, weekends and flexible hours as assigned.
- Strong organizational and time management skills.
- Knowledge of or the ability to gain knowledge of street locations and City geography.
- Ability to identify, troubleshoot and report electronic system glitches or errors.
- Ability to speak English clearly and accurately, have normal visual acuity, and meet medical hearing standards.
- Ability to work shifts as required by the collective bargaining agreement and the ability to work 12-hour shifts when needed, sometimes on short notice.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
- High School Diploma or equivalent required.
- LEADS 3.0 Full Access Certification within 30 days of employment.
- Illinois State Police Telecommunicator Sexual Assault and Sexual Abuse Training within 30 days of employment.
- 40-hour PowerPhone Public Safety Dispatch Course (Emergency Medical Dispatch, Law Enforcement Dispatch, and Fire Service Dispatch) while in training.
- American Heart Association Basic Life Saver CPR/AED or equivalent Certification within an agreed-upon timeframe.
- Obtain an Illinois Department of Public Health Emergency Medical Dispatcher license before the completion of training.
- Valid driver's license.
Experience:
- Two years of experience with emergency services communications desired.
- Working knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, and Outlook) is strongly desired. Previous experience or the ability to gain experience with departmental systems is required.
- Ability to type a minimum of thirty-five (35) words per minute.
- Working knowledge of phone, radio Records Management, and Computer Aided Dispatch systems desired.
Supplemental Information
WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- This position will work primarily in an office setting. While working in the office, the person in this position will regularly sit, stand, walk, reach with hands and arms and talk or hear on the phone and in-person.
- This position will occasionally lift/move up to 25 pounds.
- This position requires close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
- This position will require occasional travel to and from various municipal buildings and other offsite locations throughout the State.
- This position may require long periods of standing or sitting.
- This position will require the wearing of a telephone headset and the ability to hear, distinguish and understand voices with background noises present.
- Must be able to work in an environment with randomly occurring periods that are dominated by crisis and stress-filled conditions.
EQUIPMENT USED:
- General office equipment including personal computer, laptops, printers, scanner, and fax/copy machine.
- Communications equipment including radio equipment (consoles, mobile and portable radios), phone system including Next Generation 9-1-1 software, Computer Aided Dispatch program and Records Management software.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- This position will require the ability to work shifts outside of normal business hours including evenings, weekends, holidays, and changing shifts.
SELECTION PROCESS:
- The selection process includes submission of an application, interview, written exam, observation, and a background check. The psychological exam, physical exam, and drug screen (including cannabis) are completed upon conditional offer.
STATEMENT OF OTHER DUTIES DISCLAIMER:
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this position. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to do this job.
The City of DeKalb is an Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of DeKalb provides a comprehensive benefits package that beings on the first day of employment and includes:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
- Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
- Retirement Plans through the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund or the Fire/Police Pension Funds
- Vacation, Holiday, and Sick Time
- Deferred Compensation
- Employee Assistance program
01
What made you decide to apply for the Telecommunicator position with the City of DeKalb?
02
We strongly encourage all applicants to view the YouTube video listed below prior to submitting an application. This video gives a quick insight as to what this position entails.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=497uMOa8oq0
- Yes, I have watched the video.
- No, I have not watched the video.
03
The Communications Center operates a 24 hour/7 day a week. Are you able to work a variety of shifts that include nights, weekends, holidays and extended shifts?
04
Have you ever done a law enforcement ride-a-long/sit-in? If so, when was it and with which agency? What sticks out the most about that experience?
05
Do you have experience using a multi-line phone system?
06
If you have previous dispatch experience, what Computer Aided Dispatch Systems have you worked with? If no experience, please note NA.
07
Describe any experience involving heavy phone contact, data entry/form completion, complaint resolution and/or processing orders/inquiries.
08
Can you type at least 35 correct words per minute?
09
How many words per minute do you type and what is your overall accuracy?
10
I understand this position is classified as an emergency response position. The position will require residency within fifteen (15) months from the completion of the probationary period. Please see the Telecommunicator Resident Map at Appendix "D-1" in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement for residency boundaries.
Required Question
