911 Officer Employment

911 Communications Officers

$4,800 Hiring Incentive
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The Gwinnett County Police Department is hiring 911 Communications Officers, with a starting salary of $48,460 annually. Candidates may qualify for additional pay incentives based on education: a 3% increase for an associate degree ($49,914) or a 6% increase for a bachelor’s degree ($51,368). A 5% shift differential is also available for overnight shifts.

911 Communications Officers serve as the first point of contact in emergency situations and play a critical role in public safety. They help coordinate rapid, effective responses and serve as a vital link between residents and first responders during high-pressure events.

The E-911 Center, located within the 45,000-square-foot Police Headquarters Annex built in 2010, is a state-of-the-art facility featuring Phase II location tracking, Reverse 9-1-1 capabilities, and an Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System. Gwinnett County also maintains a fully equipped Alternate 911 Center to ensure uninterrupted emergency service during disasters, outages, or other disruptions.

Employee benefits include:

This is a rewarding but demanding career that requires strong communication and customer service skills, accurate typing and data entry, the ability to remain calm under pressure, and strong multitasking abilities.

The E-911 Center operates 24/7, with 12-hour shifts that include nights, weekends, and holidays. This schedule provides more days off throughout the year, with additional compensation for overnight shifts.

Hiring Process

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If you are interested in an E-911 Communications career, there are some prerequisites/qualifications:

  • High school diploma or G.E.D.
  • Two years of experience in a fast paced business customer service or telecommunications environment
  • U.S. Citizen
  • Ability to work rotating shifts, nights, holidays, and weekends
  • A professional and calm demeanor, as this is a highly stressful, demanding, fast-paced job involving life and death situations
  • The Department will administer job simulation skills test to determine eligibility; and
  • Must complete a comprehensive background investigation including criminal, driving, controlled substance, and employment history checks

The application process usually takes 60 to 90 days. After an application is received in the Department of Human Resources, it is screened and then sent to the Police Department. The Police Department starts to schedule applicants for the various steps in Phase I.

Phase I:

  • Preliminary Orientation
  • Data Entry Testing
  • Observational Block
  • Oral Interview

Preliminary Orientation:

This step is to provide the applicant with some basic information about the Police Department. Personal information is also gathered. Some of the information will include, but is not limited to, educational background, employment history, and personal data.

Data Entry Testing and Observation:

This step, utilizing CritiCALL, evaluates the ability of an applicant to complete data entry from different sources. Multitasking and decision making are also measured. Once an applicant has passed the CritiCALL evaluation, they will observe in the Communications Center for a two-hour block.

Oral Interview:

Applicants who successfully complete the initial screening are scheduled for an oral interview. This interview is conducted by members of the Department who are in supervisory and management roles in Communications and in the Office of Professional Standards.

Once the applicant successfully completes Phase I, they are placed on an applicant register. If the applicant is selected, they are given a conditional job offer. The final job offer is based on the successful completion of Phase II.

Phase II:

  • Physical examination/drug screening
  • Psychological testing

If you successfully pass all the steps in Phase II, you are given a final job offer.

During the background investigation process, any applicant can be rejected for failing to meet the hiring standards. Once an applicant is rejected, they are not eligible to reapply for a minimum of one year. Any applicant rejected will receive a letter stating the reason for the rejection and the specific time frame required before reapplication can be made.

Communications Officer Training

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You will receive top-quality training in our Basic Communications Officer training program. The training is conducted at the Gwinnett County Police Training Center, located in Lawrenceville. Upon completion of the classroom portion of training, you then receive three phases of on-the-job training. Field Training Officers will teach and mentor new Communications Officers during this period. Each phase culminates in a performance examination and a written examination.