Police Communications

About

To be a Public Safety Telecommunicator ("PST," or commonly referred to as a Police Dispatcher) with the Jefferson Township Police Department, the basic requirements are that you must have completed the "Emergency Medical Dispatch" and the "Public Safety Telecommunicator" courses, and be up to date on your CPR (for the Professional Rescuer). As a beginner, you will receive many hours of training with one of our seasoned PSTs, until it has been determined you are able to go on your own.

Squads & Schedules

Each of our four full time PSTs is a member of a squad consisting of a Sergeant, a Corporal, and 4 police officers (we have four squads). Squads work four, 12-hour days (either 7 am to 7 pm or 7 pm to 7 am) and are then off for four days. We also have several part time PSTs who cover vacations, sick time, and other absences of our Full Timers, as well as assist on some of our busier days such as Mischief Night/Halloween.

Duties

Working as a PST can go from a quiet day to extremely hectic in the blink of an eye. Therefore, as a PST, it is important that you be able to multi-task, listen to, understand and respond to multiple radio communications going on simultaneously ("split ear"), answer 911 and the non-emergency lines, dispatch not only police, EMS and Fire personnel, but also make contact with outside vendors needed at the scene such as the tow truck, Medivac, MICU, JCP&L, Verizon, the Coroner, specialized units of the Morris County Sheriff’s Department, as well as specialized units of our own department such as the Traffic Bureau and the Detective Bureau, and Township Departments such as DPW, Water and Sewer and Health Departments, along with other varied responsibilities.

When answering 911, it is important to remain calm even when the caller is screaming because a loved one is ill or injured, or because they are involved in a domestic dispute with their spouse or other family member, or maybe their house or a neighbor’s house is on fire, or something has frightened them like a bear appearing on their deck.

Computer Skills

There is also a computer component to PST’s responsibilities, which is done sometimes in the midst of all of the craziness that can happen at once on the desk (i.e, missing persons must be entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) as soon as possible after the PST takes the initial information from the caller). PSTs are also required to check criminal and motor vehicle warrants by computer, and by phone on occasion, as well as access local and out of state motor vehicle records while officers await the information because they have a car stopped.

Appreciation

So, next time you hear someone call PSTs (Police Dispatchers) "glorified telephone operators," remember the above description of what they do on any given day and at any given hour, and how important a link they are between you and the assistance you require. Could you do their job? If you think you can and would like to apply to be a part time PST with the Jefferson Township Police Department, view our Employment Application (PDF).

Reporting a Crime

Visit our Reporting a Crime page for additional helpful information.