911 Emergency Dispatcher

About the role

Livingston County was named a 2025 Top Workplace by the Detroit Free Press, based solely on employee feedback. With over 700 employees serving within 18 departments, 6 elected offices, and 3 Courts, Livingston County's top priority is providing effective and efficient services that improve the quality of life for all residents. The Livingston County 911 Central Dispatch is an integral part of public safety, providing 24-hour police, fire, and emergency medical response to the public. Extensive dispatch and public safety training is provided. This role involves receiving emergency calls and dispatching law enforcement, fire, and/or emergency medical services throughout the county. You will utilize specialized computer systems to secure and enter critical information, monitor emergency units, and support field personnel.

This position operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, requiring assigned shifts and emergency coverage. It is under the general supervision of the Dispatch Supervisor or other management staff.

Responsibilities

• Receives emergency calls for law enforcement, fire, and/or emergency medical services assistance.
• Reviews and secures additional information on location, nature of incident, status of emergency, and other vital data.
• Confirms the nature of calls, determines priority, decides which agency should respond, and dispatches necessary information to the proper agency or unit.
• Assists emergency service units in the field by securing and verifying information through computers, department files, records, and other data sources.
• Obtains and coordinates assistance from additional police, fire, medical services, units, agencies, and other organizations in emergency situations.
• Monitors the availability and location of emergency and designated personnel in the field.
• Records and maintains information in both manual and computerized systems.
• Operates radio consoles, recorders, E911 displays, computer-aided dispatching terminals, LEIN and NCIC terminals, Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD and Text), other specialized equipment, departmental PCs, and general office machines.
• Monitors weather conditions on automated emergency management systems and relays severe weather conditions to emergency agencies.
• Provides first aid or other pre-arrival instructions to callers pending the arrival of emergency personnel.
• Monitors multiple situations simultaneously, including the Central Dispatch Facility security systems.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent and one of the following:
  • Six months' experience with customer service, multitasking, leadership/supervisory experience, or responding to emergency situations in an emergency call center, fire service, ambulance service, law enforcement, hospital, or military.
  • Completion of 48 credit hours in a public safety-related program at an accredited college or university (transcripts required).
  • Current certification in Emergency Medical Dispatch, Emergency Fire Dispatch, and Emergency Police Dispatch.
• No conviction of a violation of criminal law (excludes traffic, conservation, and liquor law violations).
• Normal hearing and normal color vision.
• One year of experience working with the public.
• Ability to type a minimum of 30 WPM.

Working Conditions

Physical Requirements: Positions in this class typically require gross and fine motor skills, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions. Sedentary work involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and sitting most of the time. Tasks include:

• Operating radios, telephones, specialized telecommunications equipment, and general office machines.
• Entering and retrieving information from computerized systems.
• Bending, stooping, and reaching to operate equipment.
• Distinguishing and responding to multiple audible stimuli (e.g., telephone, radio, alarms).
• Distinguishing and responding to multiple visual stimuli (e.g., printed documents, computer displays, indicator lights).
• Clearly conveying verbal messages using telecommunications devices.

Environmental Conditions:

• Working in an area with radios, telephones, and telecommunications equipment for up to 16 continuous hours.
• Maintaining a quick work pace with periods of intense activity.
• Working assigned shifts (day, afternoon, night), overtime, emergency coverage, and holidays to maintain 24/7 operations.
• Working in an office environment or the mobile command center.
• Working effectively in situations ranging from mundane to life-or-death.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation plan.
• MERS Retirement Plan.
• Employer-funded MERS Retirement Health Savings Plan.
• Comprehensive medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision coverage.
• Optional Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation plan.
• Employer-paid basic life and AD&D insurance.
• Health and Dependent Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Paid vacation, sick days, and 13 holidays (unused vacation and sick time rolls over per union contract).
• Tuition reimbursement.
• $500 annual wellness reimbursement.
• Voluntary benefits such as Accident, Critical Illness, Long-Term Disability, and Hospital policies.
• Employee assistance program.

Pay

This is a union position with a starting pay of $23.99/hour. The position is eligible for step pay increases within the 911 Union Wage Scale, with a top-end wage of $30.98/hour. Lateral hires may start between $23.99 and $30.98 per hour.

Training includes a 40-hour workweek with no overtime during classroom training. After initial training, mandatory built-in overtime is paid at time and a half. Pay is issued bi-weekly.