Position
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9-1-1
Communications Officer
The Eastern
Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Commission is now accepting applications for 9-1-1
Communications Officers for fulltime openings and part-time openings (including
individuals potentially interested in future full-time advancement). The
qualified applicant will work rotating shifts, including weekdays, weekends,
and holidays, as well as fill in shifts as needed. 9-1-1 Communications Officers are responsible
for answering 9-1-1 calls, verifying the callback number and address of the
emergency, determining the nature of the emergency and transferring the call or
dispatching the appropriate emergency response unit as required, as well as
other associated duties.
Minimum
qualifications are a high school diploma or equivalent, including some
experience in keyboarding or typing.
Applicants must be able to speak clearly and distinctly, understand and
follow detailed directions, act quickly and effectively during emergencies, and
operate complex telecommunications equipment. Desirable qualifications include
two years experience in law enforcement, fire, or emergency medical services,
and/or public safety dispatching. Applicants selected for employment will be
subject to a background investigation and drug screening.
Applications
may be obtained at the Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Communications Center,
23201 Front St., P.O. Box 337, Accomac, Va. 23301 or
by downloading here. The ESVA 9-1-1 Commission is an equal opportunity
employer.
Apply Online (Quick Application)
Accomack and Northampton
Counties Achieve Compliance with
Virginia’s Marcus Alert System Through Rave 911 Suite and Smart911
The Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Communications Center, in coordination with the Accomack and Northampton County Sheriff’s Offices, Chincoteague Police Department, and Eastern Shore Community Services Board (CSB), announced on August 6 that the Eastern Shore of Virginia is in compliance with Virginia’s Marcus Alert System, which established statewide mental health awareness response and community understanding services, through its use of Rave Mobile Safety’s Rave 911 Suite and Smart911.
The Marcus Alert System legislation mandates a set of protocols to initiate a behavioral health response to a behavioral health crisis, including for individuals experiencing that crisis secondary to mental illness, substance abuse, developmental disabilities, or any combination thereof. It requires that, by July 1, 2021, every locality in Virginia establishes a voluntary database to be made available to the 9-1-1 alert system and the Marcus Alert System to provide mental health information and emergency contact information for response to an emergency or crisis.
Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Communications Center was already in compliance thanks to its ongoing use of Rave 911 Suite and Smart911, a national service that allows individuals to provide 9-1-1 call takers and first responders with critical information through a Safety and Vulnerable Needs Profile. When residents sign up for Smart911, their Safety Profiles display on the 9-1-1 screen and allow 9-1-1 call takers to view key information, like addresses, mental health and medical information, photos, emergency contacts and more. Residents are in complete control of what information is included in their Safety Profile and can choose which information they want shared with 9-1-1.
With the Rave 911 Suite, the Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Center, Accomack County Sheriff’s Office, Northampton County Sheriff’s Office, and Chincoteague Police Department also have access to capabilities like call notes, caller location and chat functionality—all of which help the Eastern Shore of Virginia’s First Responders provide better informed response to residents.
“Smart911 will be a great resource for First Responders to assist an individual who is experiencing a mental health crisis,” says John Konkel, Emergency Services CIT Coordinator, Eastern Shore of Virginia Community Services Board.
Individuals are encouraged to create their free Safety Profile with Smart911 today to have their information immediately available to 9-1-1 and to receive emergency notifications. Smart911 is private and secure, and information is only made available to the 9-1-1 system in the event of an emergency call. To create a Smart911 profile for yourself and your family, visit www.smart911.com. You may also download the free mobile app from either Google Play for Android devices or the App Store for Apple devices. For profile assistance or questions, individuals may contact the Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Center’s non-emergency line at (757) 787-0911 or e-mail 911esva@co.northampton.va.us.
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Craig Hudson Recognized for 9-1-1 Telecommunications Support On December 3rd, 2020, at the December ESVA 9-1-1 Commission meeting, Craig Hudson (left) was presented a Resolution of Appreciation from the ESVA 9-1-1 Commission from 9-1-1 Director Jeffrey Flournoy. For many years prior to his retirement in early 2020, as one of his duties as a Verizon employee, Craig provided assistance to the ESVA 9-1-1 Center (generally behind the scenes) to maintain the critical operations of 9-1-1 telephone services for Accomack and Northampton Counties, thus helping to assure the protection and well-being of residents and visitors in our region. Thank you Craig… we wish you well in your retirement! |
We’re Here for You… Dial 9-1-1 for Any Emergency!
Chairman Donnie Kellam & Krista Kilmon |
Kilmon Certifies as Registered Public-Safety Leader Krista Kilmon, Senior
9-1-1 Communications Officer, recently achieved certification as a Registered
Public Safety Leader (RPL) by the Association of Public Safety Communications
Officials (APCO). The RPL program is designed for individuals seeking to
develop a solid foundation of management and supervisory skills necessary for
successful 9-1-1 Center and dispatch operations and is a year-long training
and certification program. The certification includes skills related to
managing organizations and change, communicating with clarity and confidence,
building connections and consensus, enhancing team performance, and
ultimately applying learned skills to better the 9-1-1 and dispatch
profession. Krista will be recognized formally at the APCO International
Conference in August 2020. Kilmon began her career
with the 9-1-1 Center in 2006, being promoted to Senior 9-1-1 Communications
Officer in 2014. |
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Tonya Blake Recognized for 9-1-1 Service Communications
Officer Tonya Blake called an
end to her shifts as a Communications Officer in early 2020 in the face of
health issues. The 9-1-1 Commission
presented a Resolution of Appreciation for her service with the following
highlights: WHEREAS, Tonya Blake has
served the Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Commission since 2010 as both a
part-time and full-time 9-1-1 Communications Officer; and WHEREAS, Tonya Blake is a
proficient and competent 9-1-1 Communications Officer and demonstrates this
on a regular basis; and WHEREAS, Tonya Blake,
serving as a 9-1-1 Communications Training Officer for the 9-1-1 Center, is a
crucial contributor towards the development of new 9-1-1 Communications
Officers; and WHEREAS, her colleagues,
serving alongside her on the dispatch floor for the last decade, will miss
her, her professionalism, and her overall positive demeanor; now, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Commission does hereby adopt this Resolution of Appreciation and thanks 9-1-1 Communications Officer Tonya Blake for her lengthy service to the Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Center. |
Tanya Blake & Chairman Donnie Kellam |
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2018 Telecommunicator of the Year Carlee Parker Please join us in congratulating
Communications Officer Carlee Parker, our 2018 Telecommunicator of the
Year! Carlee is a huge asset to our
9-1-1 team and her dedication to the job does not go unnoticed! Congratulations Carlee
Parker! Thanks to all our Communications
Officers for their dedication and service throughout the year. |
Mariner Recognized
for Outstanding Service
As 9-1-1 Commissioner On
August 1st, 2017, a Resolution of Appreciation was presented
to William “Bill” Mariner for his years of service on the Eastern Shore of
Virginia 9-1-1 Commission. Bill was a charter member of the 9-1-1 Commission,
serving since its inception in 1990 until his recent passing on August 6th,
2017, just several days after the Resolution was presented. For twenty-seven
years, Bill, as a member of the Greenbackville
Volunteer Fire Department, represented Accomack County EMS on the 9-1-1
Commission. The picture on the right, from the presentation on August 1st,
includes (from left to right), Jeffrey Flournoy (Director for the 9-1-1
Center), Donald Kellam (Chairman of the 9-1-1 Commission), Scott Chandler
(Consultant for the 9-1-1 Center), and Ben Byrd (9-1-1 Commissioner), with
Bill Mariner seated, holding the Resolution. View the Resolution of
Appreciation |
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9-1-1 Center Upgrades Emergency Call Handling
Equipment (CHE)
The Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Commission recently installed and
upgraded its telephone call handling
equipment (CHE) to facilitate the handling and processing of emergency calls
for the Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Center.
The new equipment and software, known as Emergency CallWorks, was provided by Motorola Solutions.
Emergency CallWorks’ solution provides an
advanced, next-generation version of 9-1-1 that is capable of moving beyond
voice-only calls by processing multimedia information into the call flow. Its
browser-based workstation architecture eliminates proprietary 9-1-1 switching
hardware, simplifies operations and provides cost-effective system
implementation, allowing for remote monitoring, service and support, with
continuous delivery of innovative new features.
The system provides additional integrated mapping features to improve call
handling by communications officers.
Additionally, new telephones
utilizing voice over internet protocol (VoIP) were installed to support
Emergency Operations Center functions.
That system is provided and supported by NeuBeam,
a local internet and telephone vendor.
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9-1-1 Commission Deploys Simulcast Radio Dispatch
and EMS Operations Channels
The Eastern Shore of Virginia
9-1-1 Commission placed a simulcast radio system for F1 (Rescue Dispatch) in
operation during June 2015. The system
allows transmitters at multiple sites to be keyed simultaneously to deliver
dispatch traffic shore-wide. Previously,
three separate transmitters were used based on the geographic location of the
call. When simulcasted, dispatches and
radio messages cover all areas; incidents in multiple geographic areas do not
have to be replicated. Additionally, the
Commission deployed a simulcast EMS operations channel that moves EMS radio
transmissions from the dispatch channel during July 2015. The EMS Operations channel utilizes multiple
repeaters to broadcast 9-1-1 radio traffic and rebroadcast field communications
shore-wide. As the EMS Operations
channel was readied for operations, field radios were reprogrammed.
Atlantic Communications was
awarded the contract to provide, deliver, install, and integrate the new
simulcast dispatch radio system and perform related tasks.
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Eastern Shore 9-1-1 Center is NOAA Weather–Ready
Nation Ambassador The Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador
initiative is an effort to formally recognize NOAA partners who are improving
the nation’s readiness against extreme weather, water, and climate events.
Eastern Shore 9-1-1 Center is committed to work with NOAA and other
Ambassadors to strengthen national resilience against extreme weather.
Additional information regarding Weather-Ready Nation can be found on the
National Weather Service website: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/com/weatherreadynation/ |
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Communications
Manual
Amendments
Through January 2022 Incorporated
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ESVA 9-1-1 Assumes 9-1-1 Services for Town of
Chincoteague
On Monday, November 18, 2013, the Eastern Shore of
Virginia 9-1-1 Communications Center transitioned and began receiving 9-1-1
calls that were previously routed to and processed by the Town of
Chincoteague. The Eastern Shore 9-1-1
Center will transfer any police related calls to the Chincoteague Police
Department for dispatch, but will directly dispatch fire and EMS calls to the
Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company (Station 3).
On October 21, 2013, Chincoteague Town Council voted
to transition Chincoteague’s 9-1-1 services and the dispatch of Station 3 to
the ESVA 9-1-1 Center. The last several weeks have included planning for the
transition and the development of an agreement between the Town of Chincoteague
and the ESVA 9-1-1 Commission.
Non-Emergency
Phone Numbers: (757) 787-0911, 824-0911, 442-0911
9-1-1
Administration: (757) 787-0909
Copyright 2022,
Eastern Shore of Virginia 9-1-1 Commission
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Last Updated June 30, 2022