CLASS SPECIFICATION

PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTING AIDE I

DEFINITION OF CLASS:
This is public safety reporting work assisting citizens/victims with documentation of domestic violence and other crimes. Personal contacts include the County Emergency Communications Center, other law enforcement jurisdictions (including the Maryland State Police), health and human service agencies, and the public to exchange routine and non-routine information in the public safety reporting process. Information exchange concerns protective and peace orders, crime reports, victim services, and other factual and service-based data. Personal contacts are typically cooperative. Public service/assistance is provided to citizens reporting incidents/accidents not requiring the immediate response of a Police Officer and petitioners concerning, or victims of, domestic violence. The employee conducts telephone or face-to-face interviews, depending on the program of assignment, to acquire specific information to complete reports, register offenders, take fingerprints, query and update databases and/or provide straightforward advice and assistance on safety and security.
An employee in this class interviews the citizen/victim to obtain information to complete appropriate documentation and/or provide referrals to other agencies, such as Child Welfare Services, that respond to social service needs and provide other assistance. The employee uses various databases to access and update information on criminal history, driving history, missing persons, vehicles, weapons, etc. Under normal supervision, the employee proceeds independently to carry out recurring assignments, selecting and applying the applicable regulations and procedures to perform the work and referring unusual situations to the supervisor or other authority for guidance. The work is reviewed for conformance to policies and procedures. The complexity of this class of work is in its requirement for close attention to detail in interviewing victims of crime, using databases and preparing documentation, which require deductive reasoning in discovering and mentally processing facts and assertions, discerning and assessing interrelationships, and acting accordingly. This work is responsive to the needs of crime victims; reduces the volume of work of sworn officers; and thus frees them for other work; supports the proper arrest of perpetrators; enhances the safety of Deputy Sheriffs in timely and effective service of protective orders; and of Police Officers responding to domestic violence and other types of calls. The work involves sitting, listening, speaking, keyboarding, standing, walking, a limited amount of lifting/carrying, and other physical demands typical of administrative workers in office settings. Sitting while listening intently, talking on the telephone and looking at a video display is sometimes a prolonged activity. The employee is occasionally subject to face-to-face or telephone interaction with people who are angry, hostile or aggressive.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES: (Illustrative Only)
Telephone Reporting Unit
Receives requests for crime reporting assistance via computer aided dispatch (CAD) system and referral. Contacts citizens/victims and conducts an interview to acquire the necessary information and details about the incident/event. (Occasionally sees citizens/victims who come to Headquarters to file reports.) Redirects calls to Emergency Communications Center (ECC) as appropriate.
Performs database queries and transactions.
Writes the appropriate incident/event and supplemental report forms, and provides social service agency referrals, as appropriate.
Uses databases to obtain information on motor vehicles, vehicle owners, drivers, missing persons, stolen and recovered vehicles, etc.
Registers sex offenders by explaining registration requirements to offender, processing paperwork, and taking fingerprints and digital photographs.
Performs NCIC validations by researching, investigating and writing reports.
Responds to subpoenas and testifies in court.
Mails copies of reports to citizens for insurance purposes.
Answers Drug Tip Hotline, completes documents and relays information to proper authority/agency.
Distributes reports to stations and other supporting units/agencies.
Processes criminal arrest and related reports for the District Station.
Cooperates with other police jurisdictions to exchange information on stolen/recovered vehicles, property, tags, etc.
Fingerprints citizens and completes fingerprint cards for immigration and naturalization and other purposes.
Operates photocopying equipment, calculator, computer terminals, and other office machinery to accomplish assigned duties and responsibilities.
Performs related duties as required.

Domestic Violence Section
Interviews domestic violence victims and victims of other crimes who have obtained emergency court orders for protection from violence. Assesses their needs for safety and security to identify appropriateness of, and requests or provides welfare checks, ADT pendants, 911 cell phones and other services. Provides social service agency referrals, as appropriate.
Uses databases to obtain information on perpetrators of domestic violence and respondents in temporary protection orders.
Reconciles information provided by interviewees with information available in the criminal and civil databases. This involves a multi-step process due to use of aliases by respondents and other conflicting data, and a search for and confirmation of outstanding warrants, both in and out of state, on the defendants.
Enters and updates critical information into criminal and civil databases on temporary protective orders, peace orders and protective orders.
Answers inquiries from County residents, public and private assistance and social service agencies.
Maintains Sheriff's Office files on temporary protective orders, peace orders, and protective orders.
Performs related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience: Two (2) years of previous clerical experience.
Education: Completion of high school or High School Certificate of completion recognized in the State of Maryland.
Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Ability to acquire knowledge of pertinent State and County codes and regulations; various computer systems/databases, such as the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and Maryland Interagency Law Enforcement System (MILES), in order to access, use and input information, as required by the assignment.
Ability to acquire knowledge of Police District geography, Police Department/District procedures and other rules and standards concerning a variety of matters, including police reports, towing, Police Officer/Deputy Sheriff dispatch, information look-ups, fingerprinting, and more, to determine and take the requisite action or the best course of immediate advice, as required by the assignment.
Skill in interviewing, including careful listening and speaking, to exchange pertinent facts in criminal and civil matters. This includes skill includes tact in eliciting personal information from victims of crime.
Skill in written communication to update paperwork and electronic forms and databases.
Interpersonal skills and discretion to effectively exchange information while protecting privacy.
Skill in paying attention to detail in using databases to obtain and update criminal and civil information.
Ability to learn to operate standard keyboards equivalent to the needs of the specific position (number pads, function keys, word processing terminals, microcomputers, or other office automation equipment).
Ability to learn to operate fingerprinting, photocopying, and other related office equipment.
Ability to accurately make routine arithmetic calculations.
Ability to accurately interpret road maps and provide easy to follow, clear directions.
Ability to learn the applicable laws and procedures used in the classification and reporting of crimes.
Ability to pass a police background investigation and obtain and maintain NCIC certification.
Ability and willingness to work rotating shift work schedules, including holidays.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD:
Individuals appointed or promoted to this class will be required to serve a probationary period of six months, during which time performance will be carefully evaluated. Continuation in this class will be contingent upon successful completion of the probationary period.

MEDICAL PROTOCOL: Limited Core Exam

Class Established: February 1992
Revised: November 1995
July 2004(M)
April 2010

Former Class Titles: Police Telephone Reporting Aide I
Public Safety Telephone Reporting Aide I