Communications Officer

Duties:

• DPS Communications Officers are professionals dedicated to assisting citizens and law enforcement officers.
• Communications Officers provide driver license information, vehicle information, investigative and other law enforcement-related information to law enforcement personnel. They are also responsible for routing emergency equipment and personnel to traffic collisions and disasters.
• Providing assistance to citizens traveling throughout the state, current road conditions, and weather conditions is another responsibility that Communications Officers perform. Oklahoma has the *55 program providing emergency assistance to the public. All *55 calls are handled by Communications Officers.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 20 years of age
• Oklahoma resident
• High School dipolma or G.E.D.
• Type a minimum of 25 words a minute
• Fifteen hours at an acredited collegeor university or six months experience in law enforcement communications
• Successful completion of a background investigation, physical examination, psychological and hearing test

Benefits:

• Employee health, life and dental insurance
• Minimum 3 weeks annual vacation
• Sick and Holiday pay
• 20-year retirement plan
• Uniforms and maintenance allowance
• Promotion and transfer opportunities
• Salary Information

To apply:

• Fill out the application
• Apply through the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
• Contact Information:
• Phone: (405) 521-2177
• Fax: (405) 524-6942
• Email: Email OPM
• If you have questions concerning this position you may contact the Communication Center nearest you or e-mail Susan Burris.

After Employment...

• New Communications Officers are placed in probationary status for 12 months. During this 12 months they are assigned a training officer who assists and evaluates their progress.
• Communications Officers will attend two-one week classroom sessions during probation. The first session consists of an orientation program, and the second week provides necessary training to be certified to handle sensitive information and to operate computer equipment and technical software.
• Upon successful completion of the probationary period, Communication Officers are required to attend annual training. During this training, instruction is provided to the Communications Officers in new laws, changes to existing laws, new policies of the Department and the Communications Division.
• Employees are also given the opportunity to join one of the Department's mobile command posts. Those selected receive specialized training allowing them the ability to operate in high-pace emergency operations. These members have served in areas such as the Oklahoma City bombing site, tornadoes and manhunts.
• All Communication Officers are eligible for promotion during their career. Transfer opportunities exist for the Communications Officer who would like to move to one of the other 12 Communications Centers.
• Communication Officers, Communication Sergeants and Communication Lieutenants shall reside within the boundaries of the assigned troop or no more than fifty (50) aerial miles of the assigned Troop Headquarters, whichever is greater. "Residence" is defined as "a physical location where the member lives, sleeps, and resides during his/her work period".

DPS Communications Center

There are 13 Communication Centers located throughout the state in Oklahoma Highway Patrol headquarters.

History of the Communications Division

Communication services for the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety began in 1939 with the first experimental one-way transmitter near Stillwater, Oklahoma.

In 1940, a vast improvement was made when two-way transmitters were installed utilizing AM radio bands. Following World War II, the department moved into the FM realm and began putting this "modern" equipment in its patrol units and stations across the state.

During this conversion the department created a Communications Division and staffed it with civilian employees. In 1954, those employees became uniformed members of the department and were placed under the direct control of the chief of the patrol and local district commanders.

In order to keep pace with changing technologies, rules and regulations, and laws governing today′s law enforcement communications, the division created internal leadership in 1975 with a director′s position to assume authority over its members.

Today′s Communications Division consists of approximately 100 uniformed members assigned among each of the 13 Communications Centers located in highway patrol headquarters across the state of Oklahoma. Each headquarters has its own supervisors to oversee communication officers working with the state troopers to create a safe and secure environment for the citizens of Oklahoma.