Overview:
When most people think about the Maryland Department of State Police, they picture a trooper. While troopers are generally the "public" face of the Maryland State Police, the Maryland Department of State Police Emergency Dispatchers (MDSPED) provide the link between citizens and troopers. While not as visible as troopers on the road, each MDSPED is just as necessary and critical for the completion of the mission.
Emergency Dispatchers must be the "calm in the eye of the storm." They are often performing many functions at one time under the most stressful of conditions. They must be able to communicate precisely and clearly in emergency situations, maintaining professionalism at all times.
Emergency Dispatchers are the lifeline for both Troopers and the public at large; they are the first line responders for 911 calls and also dispatch numerous routine calls for service. It is a 24/7, 365-day operation. They are responsible for multi-channel radios, telephones and monitoring computer terminals.
Emergency Dispatcher I is the entry level of communications work in law enforcement operations. Employees may be assigned to day, evening, night or a combination of rotating shifts to include holidays, weekends and are subject to call in and overtime based on staffing needs.
Salary:
- Emergency Dispatcher Trainee $47,844 Annual
- Emergency Dispatcher I $54,161 Annual
- Emergency Dispatcher II $57,667 Annual
- Emergency Dispatcher III $61,415 Annual
- Emergency Dispatcher Supervisor $69,876 Annual
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Emergency Dispatcher Trainees through Supervisors are differentiated on the basis of the degree of supervision needed, which is based on experience.
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MSP Emergency Dispatcher I is an automatic upgrade upon successful completion of training.
Benefits:
The Maryland State Police offers competitive employer benefits including:
- Medical including vision coverage
- Term life insurance plans
- Accidental death coverage
- Behavioral health benefits
- Flexible spending accounts
- 10 to 25 days per year of Vacation Leave
- 6 Days per year of Personal Leave pro-rated based on hire date from the first year
- At least 12 paid Holidays per year
- 15 Sick Leave days per year
- Employees may use vacation leave after 6 months of employment
- 401k and 457b membership plans
Training and Career Development:
Newly hired MDSPED trainees will go through 12 weeks of training before they are released from training. The following outlines what a MSPRED Trainee can expect each week of training:
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Week one: Meet employees and command staff at the barrack. Get a tour of the facility and be provided general rules and regulations of the barrack.
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Week two: Radio recognition. The MDSPED Trainee will sit next to their Communications Training Officer (CTO) and document all radio transmissions on a word document. This ensures the trainee can perform the basic skill of understanding radio transmissions while being able to record them properly.
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Week three: Phone familiarization: how to use the system and answer routine calls. While answering the phones, the CTO will also cover how to handle emergency calls for service.
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Week four: Answering routine calls and emergency calls for service.
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Week five: Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) training.
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Week six: METERs/NCIC training.
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Week seven: If the trainee has proven proficient in all of the above skills, the CTO will start them communicating on the radio, and begin using METERS and the CAD.
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Week eight through Week twelve: prove independent working skills with the CTO observing.
Most trainees are not released from training for at least 12 weeks due to the amount of information and occupational skills needed for this position. They must also attend a Basic PCO class within the first 6 months of hire.
At no time during the training process is a trainee to be left without supervision during their shift. The CTO will closely monitor the trainee during all interactions with the public, other employees and allied agencies.
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Annual Training: MSPEDs I, II, III and Supervisors are given 24 hrs of in-service training each year. Every other year, the Supervisor's in-service will have additional training modules. The training modules have included CAD, NCIC, personal development, emergency call handling and conflict management.
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Career Development Training: The Professional Development Unit of the Education and Training Division maintains a training catalog of training courses available to sworn and civilian personnel.
Apply:To begin the Maryland State Police application process for the Maryland Department of State Police Emergency Dispatcher positions you will be required to complete an application. Prospective applicants can access the Maryland Department of State Police current recuitments page
here, to research current vacancies and locations of vacancies within the state
Contact Us:
Maryland State Police
Recruitment & Selection
1201 Reisterstown Road
Pikesville, MD 21208
E-Mail: msp.recruiting@maryland.gov
Phone: (410) 653-4348
