How to Become a 911 Dispatcher in Norman, Oklahoma

The Communications Division of the Norman Police Department provides emergency services to both internal and external customers, including public safety agencies, non-public safety agencies, and the general public. The Communications Division provides services to the following agencies:

FIND SCHOOLS
Sponsored Content

  • Norman Police Department
  • Norman Fire Department
  • EMSstat EMS
  • Little Axe Volunteer Fire Department
  • Norman Animal Welfare

There are currently 18 911 dispatchers and 6 communications managers/supervisors employed in Norman’s Communications Division.

If you want to become a 911 operator in Norman, you must complete a number of steps:

Meet Minimum Requirements for Employment in Norman
Submit an Application for Employment in Norman and Complete Pre-Employment Testing
Complete New Hire Training

 


 

Step 1. Meet Minimum Requirements for Employment in Norman

911 dispatchers (communications officers) must possess a set of minimum requirements to qualify for employment with the Norman Police Department. You must possess a high school diploma or the equivalent, and experience answering complaints and providing information is desirable.

FIND SCHOOLS
Sponsored Content

You must also possess a specific set of skills in the following:

  • Ability to extract information from irate or irrational individuals
  • Ability to follow oral and written instructions
  • Ability to make critical decisions
  • Ability to operate a computer terminal
  • Ability to remain calm in highly stressful situations
  • Data entry
  • Effective oral communications and interpersonal skills

You are not eligible for employment as a 911 dispatcher in Norman if you have:

  • Three or more hazardous moving violations within the past 2 years
  • A felony drug usage/possession/distribution within the past 5 years
  • Any arrests (with charges filed) for a crime in the past 3 years
  • Any misdemeanor drug use in the past 2 years
  • A dishonorable discharge from the military

Many individuals also choose to pursue a degree from an accredited college or university in a number of programs, such as: communications, criminal justice, public safety, emergency communications, or homeland security. Although programs in emergency communications do not exist, these similar programs allow students to gain a solid framework in topics such as:

  • Business management
  • Effective communication
  • Ethics in the criminal justice system
  • Public administration
  • Public relations
  • Organizational behavior
  • Disaster preparedness
  • State and local government operations

 


 

Step 2. Submit an Application for Employment in Norman and Complete Pre-Employment Testing

To be considered for employment as a 911 dispatcher in Norman, you must complete an application for employment and mail it, along with all required, supporting documents, to:

The City of Norman
Human Resources Department
201-C West Gray
Norman, OK 73069

If you are chosen as a candidate for a 911 operator job, you will be contacted by the Department to take a data entry test. You will only be considered for the position upon passing the data entry test. You must achieve a net accuracy of 130 kpm in data entry.

FIND SCHOOLS
Sponsored Content

From there, you can expect to undergo an extensive background investigation. Before being hired as a 911 dispatcher, you will need to pass a psychological test, a polygraph examination, and a drug screen.

 


 

Step 3. Complete New Hire Training

As a new 911 dispatcher in the Communications Division of the Norman Police Department, you will be required to CPR certification and certification as a:

  • Oklahoma Law Enforcement Telecommunications Terminal Operator
  • Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD)

You must also be able to maintain these certifications while employed as a 911 operator.

Back to Top