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:
- 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.
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.
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.