This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
An eligible list established with this recruitment may be used to fill other similar positions within the Colorado Department of Public Safety in the next 12 months.
Our Mission - Engaged employees working together to safeguard lives and to provide diverse public safety services to local communities.
Our Vision -Creating safer and more resilient communities across Colorado.
Our Core Values –Unity, Honor, Service
The Colorado Department of Public Safety (CDPS) commits to cultivating an equitable, diverse, and inclusive work environment. We ensure that we recruit, retain, and promote engaged employees. Our approach to diversity is simple - it's about embracing everyone! We strive to build and nurture a culture where inclusiveness is a reflex, not an initiative. Our strength is our promise to be inclusive with intentional strategies to welcome and uplift our employees to thrive - while building a more equitable workplace. CDPS is an equal opportunity employer. See our CDPS 2022 Equal Employment Opportunity Plan
Why Do I Love My Job at CDPS
At CDPS we nurture a centric culture driven by our commitment of creating a safer Colorado, an inclusive workplace where everyone can be their own authentic self. We model a culture of collaboration, support and growth to our employees. Our culture has public service focus, and we strive to provide innovative solutions and services to our fellow Coloradans!
Careers with a purpose:
If you are passionate about public safety service, and are eager to dedicate your career to serving Coloradans, this is the organization you want to join!
We are committed to providing public safety services to our fellow Coloradans in their times of greater needs such as: safety on our roads, preparing and mitigating environmental disasters, disaster recovery, combating crime, school safety, and victim recovery.
You’ll have the opportunity to challenge yourself and acquire new capabilities to build a rewarding and fulfilling career while making a difference in our community!
When you join CDPS, you are joining a team of exceptional individuals and together you will be inspired, motivated and supported to become the best you can be.
Unmatched Benefits:
We highly value work life balance and offer excellent work-life programs, training and enriching professional development opportunities and a wide range of benefits.
- Medical and dental options are available for permanent employees and their dependents. We also offer short and long-term disability coverage, and life insurance that includes legal resources and discounts.
- State contribution into Health Savings Account when enrolled in HDHP.
- Job protected medical leave under the and the .
- Paid medical leave benefits provided by the State of Colorado.
- Eligibility for hybrid or other flexible work arrangements based on the nature of the role.
- We offer unmatched retirement benefits including mandatory PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans. For information on mandatory employee salary deferral (in lieu of contribution to Social Security), visit for details.
- CDPS provides generous time off including and annual wellness days.
- The Employee Assistance Program (C-SEAP) is available in every region of the state. It is our effort to support the well-being of employees and the workplace. EAPs provide short-term counseling, referrals and resources, as well as training and organizational development services.
- Additional benefits offered include tuition reimbursement and reduced college tuition at CSU Global and DeVry University.
- membership eligibility.
To learn more about State of Colorado benefits, please visit State of Colorado benefits.
Description of Job
About the Work Unit
This Communications Branch exists to provide a professional public safety communications service for the Colorado State Patrol, other partner agencies, and the public. The communications services includes researching and disseminating routine, emergency and criminal justice information, dispatching, and when required, providing 911 and emergency medical dispatch services.
Work Environment
- 100% in-person position
- 24/7 operations including nights, weekends and holidays
- Shifts vary based on demands and needs of the unit. This position includes additional compensation in the form of shift differentials which include:
- 20% Weekend shifts (4PM Friday - 6AM Monday)
- 7.5% Swing shift (4PM - 11PM Monday - Thursday)
- 14% Grave shift (11PM - 6AM Monday - Thursday)
- The Communication Officer training program is approximately 20 weeks. The training schedule is Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm.
About the Job
Police Communication Intern
Police Communication Interns are non-sworn telecommunication specialists who are provided paid, on-the-job training to become a Police Communication Technician.
Police Communication Technician
Police Communication Technicians are non-sworn telecommunication specialists who provide a "lifeline" to law enforcement officer's from the many different agencies for whom the CSP provides dispatch services. The Communication Officer Technician operates at a fully operational level. This position requires previous experience in operating radio consoles and computer terminals to receive, record, and transmit police communications.
Police Communication Technicians are trained to operate highly complex computers and communications equipment. They provide information and assistance to the citizens of Colorado and those visiting our state. These positions make decisions that are critical to the outcome of emergency situations. The information that is provided by them to field personnel is necessary for appropriate enforcement actions and is often vital to the safety of first responders.
Key Responsibilities
- Receive incoming telephone or alarm system calls regarding emergency and non-emergency police and fire service, emergency ambulance service, information and after hours calls for departments within a city.
- Determine response requirements and relative priorities of situations, and dispatch units in accordance with established procedures.
- Operate the Incident Command/Integrated Command Systems (ICS) in order to record details of calls, dispatches, and messages.
- Relay information and messages to and from emergency sites, to law enforcement agencies, and to all other individuals or groups requiring notification.
- Utilize Computer Aided Dispatch System, and contact emergency response field units to determine emergency units available for dispatch.
- Receive and disseminate all requests for emergency services such as 911 calls, suicide, homicide, assaults, domestic disputes, drunk drivers, reports of road rage, motor vehicle accidents, motorists in need of assistance.
- Operate designated camera systems, operate radio consoles, and computer terminals to receive, record, and transmit police and other emergency services communication.
- Interview callers’ request for emergency services, comprehend, analyze and determine the appropriate level of response.
Applicants who have previously been disqualified for the psych must wait 6 months before reapplying.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Police Communication Intern (Entry-Level with Paid On-the-Job Training)
- Must be 18 years of age.
- Must be a Colorado resident (both military and civilian applicants).
- Be willing and able to work any shift as part of a permanent schedule after training (nights, weekends and holidays), and be able to communicate fluently in English and have a clear speaking voice.
Police Communication Technician
- One year of full-time 911 emergency dispatch experience.
- Must be 18 years of age.
- Must be a Colorado resident (both military and civilian applicants).
- Be willing and able to work any shift as part of a permanent schedule after training (nights, weekends and holidays), and be able to communicate fluently in English and have a clear speaking voice.
Preferred Qualifications and Competencies
- Highly preferred to have a high school diploma or a G.E.D. and type approximately 35 words per minute.
- Bilingual skills include reading, writing, and speaking fluently in Spanish, Russian, or other languages.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
- Requires successful completion of a background investigation that includes polygraph examination, medical physical, psychological examination, and drug screen. If you have used marijuana within the last 12 months or any other illegal drug within the last three years, may be disqualified.
- The background investigation is based on the following criteria, including but not limited to driving history, criminal behavior/history, alcohol use/behavior, drug use/behavior, and integrity. If you omit any material fact on your application, testing materials, or during the background interview or polygraph, you may be disqualified. If any disqualifying information is discovered at any stage of the selection process, you may be removed from consideration. If you fail to follow instructions during the polygraph exam you may be removed from the process.
- Must be Colorado resident at the time of application
CSP Communication Applicant Disqualification Considerations
Integrity
To be disqualified upon admission or confirmation of:
- Theft or taken without permission of items, goods, and/or money (combined) of over $300 from an employer within the past 3 years for personal gain.
- Soliciting, offering, paying, or accepting a bribe as defined criminally in CRS (government official)
To be considered under the totality of circumstances for disqualification by the appointing authority based on the circumstances and information.
- False, fabricated, incomplete, or intentionally omitted information that affects the candidate's application for consideration.
Drug Behavior
To be disqualified upon admission or confirmation of:
- Any use, purchase, possession, manufacture, or distribution of illegal drugs, except for marijuana, within the past 5 years.
- Any illegal use, purchase, distribution, or manufacture of a controlled schedule I, II, or III drugs (as defined in C.R.S. 18-18-102) within the last 5 years.
- Use of any illegal drug, on or off duty, while employed as a law enforcement officer.
- Refusal to agree to submit to previous employers drug screening or drug testing as an employee within the past 5 years
To be considered under the totality of circumstances for disqualification by the appointing authority based on the circumstances and information.
- Any illegal use, purchase, distribution, cultivation, or possession of marijuana within the last 12 months.
- Any illegal and/or legal use or consumption of marijuana or its products within the last 12 months
- Use or possession of illegal drugs beyond 5 years, the appointing authority should consider the frequency of the behavior, the quantity of the drugs involved, and the type of drug.
- The circumstances and frequency surrounding the illegal use of a prescription controlled schedule I, II, or III drugs (as defined in C.R.S. 18-18-102) within the last 5 years.
Alcohol Behavior
To be disqualified upon admission or confirmation of:
- Unauthorized consumption of an alcoholic beverage while on "patrol" as a law enforcement officer.
- Refusal to agree to submit to a previous employer alcohol testing as an employee within the past 5 years
To be considered under the totality of circumstances for disqualification by the appointing authority based on the circumstances and information.
- Unauthorized consumption of an alcoholic beverage while on "duty" as a law enforcement officer.
- Consideration is given to the circumstances and frequency of consumption during attendance at conferences or events.
Criminal Behavior
To be disqualified upon admission or confirmation of:
- Any felony conviction
- Any domestic violence conviction
- Certain misdemeanor criminal convictions, those defined by P.O.S.T. as listed at http://www.colorado.gov/post/decertifying-misdeameanors
To be considered under the totality of circumstances for disqualification by the appointing authority based on the circumstances and information.
- Any incident of misdemeanor shoplifting or accessory to shoplifting, whether charged or not, within the past 3 years
- The circumstances and frequency of incident of a crime against a person, whether charged or not, within the past 3 years.
Driving History
To be disqualified upon admission or confirmation of:
- Any DUI, DWAI, DUID conviction within the past 3 years
- Any license suspension/revocation within the last 2 years not including FRA suspension.
- Any hit and run accident with damage to another party or injury, within the last 3 years whether reported or not.
- Any incident of eluding or attempting to elude an emergency vehicle within the last 3 years whether charged or not.
To be considered under the totality of circumstances for disqualification by the appointing authority based on the circumstances and information.
- Any license suspension/revocation within the last 5 years including FRA suspension.
- The circumstances and frequency of incident of a crime against a person, whether caught or not within the past 3 years.
- The circumstances and frequency of 3 or more convictions of moving traffic violations within the past 12 months and/or 5 or more convictions of moving traffic violations within the past 5 years (speeding, turning violations, following too closely, signaling violations, lane violations, right of way, etc.)
WORK ENVIROMENT
- 100% in-person position
- 24/7 operations including nights, weekends and holidays
- Shifts vary based on demands and needs of the unit. This position includes additional compensation in the form of shift differentials which include:
- - 20% Weekend shifts- 7.5% Swing shift (starts after 11AM)- 14% Grave shift (starts after 6PM)
- The Communication Officer training program is approximately 20 weeks. The training schedule is Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm.Recruitment Timeline Information and Important Notices
- Applications are considered complete and accurate at the time of submission. Therefore, additional information may not be solicited or accepted after your application has been received.
- Closing Date: All applications that are received by the closing of this announcement will be reviewed against the Minimum Qualifications in this announcement. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications may proceed to the next step. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted based on merit and fitness through a comparative analysis process.
- Supplemental Question: Effective responses to Supplemental Questions will directly relate to your professional experience, career accomplishments, and views about organizational values and approaches, and how they relate specifically to this position and requirements as you understand them. Answers generated by AI-tools will typically be unresponsive.
- Transcripts: An unofficial copy of transcripts must be submitted at the time of application should education be used as qualification. Transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and must be included as part of your application materials. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report may prevent your application from moving forward in the selection process.
- Military Veterans: If you are a military veteran you must submit a copy of your DD-214, Member 4 Copy, and VA disability letter if available/applicable at the time of application so we can determine if you are eligible for veteran's preference points. Military personnel who are stationed outside of Colorado may be eligible for this position by submitting the completed DD-2058 "State of Legal Residence" form.
- Application Tips: For an overview of State of Colorado application process and application tips, please view this video.
- Resumes, Cover Letters, or other documents submitted: will not be reviewed, assessed, or used in the initial stages of the comparative analysis (transcripts submitted to verify that the applicant meets either the education requirement or minimum qualification substitution are exempt from this).
- Notifications All correspondence regarding your status in the selection/examination process will be sent via email to the email address listed on your application. Include your current working email addresson your application and check the email provided on your application frequently as you could receive time sensitive correspondence regarding this position. We highly recommend that you set up your email to accept messages from "state.co.us" and "[email protected]" addresses. It is your responsibility to ensure that your email will accept these notices and/or review your junk mail and spam filtered email.
- Comparative Analysis Steps may include:
- Application Review
- An online skills assessment June 23-27
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $59,160.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Tuition reimbursement
Schedule:
- 10 hour shift
- 8 hour shift
- Day shift
- Evening shift
- Holidays
- Night shift
- Overnight shift
- Weekends as needed
Work Location: In person
