Public Safety Dispatcher

JOB OBJECTIVES:
To provide a variety of specialized and routine tasks in the provision of emergency and non-emergency communication services; to answer calls for the Police and Fire Departments and to the general City number and respond to the calls as appropriate; to provide emergency dispatch services. General supervision is provided by the Captain or his designee overseeing Uniformed Services.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:​​​​​​​

1. Behaviors must comply with the Code of Conduct and Rules of Behavior outlined in the San Juan Civil Service Rules & Regulations, San Juan Police Department Policy Manual, City of San Juan Personnel Employee Manual.
2. Answer and process calls, including emergency 911 and general non-emergency to City Hall and the Police and Fire Departments; forward calls to appropriate departments and personnel; prioritize calls and assign proper codes.
3. Receive and transmit pertinent information on all calls for services including those in progress and those involving other agencies; monitor activities of Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Service personnel; maintain the location and call status of all emergency units during an assigned dispatch shift.
4. Operate NCIC/TCIC computer system; enter data; retrieve pertinent information; relay information to emergency personnel; purge printouts from NCIC/TCIC system; maintain computers and related equipment; verify reports and data entered during shift.
5. May oversee maintenance of office equipment; maintain inventory of supplies; participate in acquisition of supplies as necessary.
6. May coordinate testing of civil defense system and cable television emergency warning system.
7. May fill out status and activity reports at the close of each shift; complete other pertinent reports as assigned.
8. May maintain and update call list for after hour’s emergency and non-emergency response personnel.
9. May supervise and monitor assigned personnel in the Technical Services Division of the Mesquite.
10. Notify wrecker services of requests for towing; maintain records of towing activities; dispatch City water, sewer and animal control personnel as necessary.
11. Monitor alarms for jail and building facilities.
12. Provide and confirm information regarding warrants and property locations; validate computer entries; enter data regarding warrants into the computer.
13. Notify hospital personnel of incoming ambulances; transmit status of patients.
14. May search prisoners.
15. May witness statements by witnesses, prisoners or suspects.
16. May change tapes on recording devices; add paper to printing equipment; save and file reports and data on computer equipment; file hard copies of reports and other data.
17. May participate in internal and external training exercises and programs; may assist in training of new personnel.
18. May monitor the weather.
19. May coordinate with other agencies to receive and transmit information.
20. Perform other duties as assigned.

EQUIPMENT/MATERIALS:

Computer, typewriter, radio, etc.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities which may include: fulfilling responsibilities characterized by anxiety, confusion and stress, maintaining constant readiness to answer and dispatch calls, sitting for extended periods of time, operating specialized communications equipment. Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed: distinguishing the difference between colors, reading and writing, communicating with others, operating specialized communications equipment.

EDUCATION/SKILLS REQUIRED:
Requires a high school diploma or GED. Speak English and Spanish fluently, able to read and write legibly, pass criminal background investigation, pass National Dispatchers Test, no experience required; type 35 wpm.  Possess of a valid Class C Texas driver’s license. Must also possess TCIC/NCIC Full Access Certification, within one (1) year of employment. Knowledge of:  jurisdictional boundaries of the City of San Juan, Texas, safe work practices, modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment, proper spelling, grammar and punctuation, basic report preparation, principles and procedures of record keeping. Must be able to communicate with persons in highly stressful situations; be proficient through TCIC/NCIC level within one year of employment as a condition of continued employment. Failure to prove proficiency as Call Taker, and NCIC within one year of employment will result in non-disciplinary termination. This is not applicable to part-time employees. Operating modern communications and computer equipment. Work during regular and irregular shift rotations, which may include weekends, holidays and extended hours in emergency, disaster or other situations influenced by workload or staffing difficulties. Work under stress and use good judgment in emergencies, listen carefully, respond to requests and inquiries from the general public, be assertive and calm in soliciting information from distressed callers, plan, organize and manage time effectively, type at a speed necessary for successful job performance, establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with coworkers and those contacted in the course of work, simultaneously perform a variety of tasks, use a variety of specialized equipment including communications and computer related equipment, quickly assimilate information and implement an appropriate course of action, communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, pass a drug examination, pass a medical physical examination and meet the City’s driving standards.

Note:  The above duties describe the chief functions of the job and are not to be considered a detailed description of every duty of the job.