Public Safety Dispatcher

DEFINITION
To receive and transmit emergency and non-emergency calls from the public for police, fire and other City services; to prioritize calls and dispatch police, fire, or other emergency units as appropriate; to process and maintain a variety of departmental reports, records and files; to search inmates; and to monitor and assist in jail operations.
 
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives direction from the Dispatch Supervisor and/or Police Administrators.EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
 

• Reliable and dependable attendance and punctuality.
• Receive emergency and non-emergency calls from the public requesting police, fire, or other related services; determine nature and location of emergency; determine priority and dispatch emergency units as necessary and in accordance with established procedures; coordinate emergency calls and relay information and assistance requests involving other law enforcement agencies.
• Use a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system to enter calls for service/radio traffic and monitor real-time status of situations.
• Maintain status and contact with all units on assignment and monitor radio frequencies of outside public safety agencies.
• Enter, retrieve, and update information from teletype networks, including the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) related to wants and warrants and vehicle registration.
• Perform a variety of clerical duties including typing police reports, entering and retrieving data relating to confidential information about persons and property, confirming warrants, entering teletypes, clearing, locating and entering records.
• Monitor closed circuit television system and alarm panel.
• Search inmates, perform jail checks and feed prisoners.
• Update manuals to ensure accuracy and compliance with State and Federal laws.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other City employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Train newly assigned personnel.
• Provide testimony in court related to assigned duties.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

 
Knowledge of:

• Operations, services, and activities of a modern public safety telecommunications and dispatch center.
• Call taking and dispatch techniques and protocols used in public safety telecommunications and dispatching activities.
• Customer service principles and practices.
• Principles and practices of record keeping and filing.
• Correct English usage, spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.
• Principles and practices of work safety.

 
Ability to:

• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Answer and prioritize calls for emergency services and dispatch appropriate units in response.
• Perform multiple cognitive and manual tasks simultaneously.
• Effectively communicate and maintain composure with and elicit information from upset and irate citizens.
• Intermittently review documents related to dispatching operations; observe, identify and problem solve incidents while dispatching, remember, understand, interpret and explain operational policies and procedures to the public and staff.
• Operate dispatch, teletype and other computer programs and equipment related to public safety communications and records.
• On a continuous basis, sit at desk/console for long periods of time; intermittently, twist and reach office equipment; write or use keyboard to communicate through written means; verbally give instructions to officers in the field; monitor and hear officer's responses over the radio; and lift and carry weight of 10 pounds or less.
• Remain calm, speak clearly, listen and determine appropriate course of action while dealing with multiple emergency situations
• Analyze situations and determine effective courses of action; learn to adjust quickly to changing situations and assign reasonable priorities to incoming calls.
• Interpret and apply laws, ordinances, and departmental policies and procedures.
• Preserve confidentiality of sensitive material routinely encountered as part of work assignment.
• Establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships with co-workers and members of the public.
• Exercise independent judgment and work with a minimum of supervision.
• Operate a variety of office equipment such as a copier, calculator, computer and typewriter.
• Type at a speed necessary for adequate job performance (35 NWPM).
• Learn and effectively use standard broadcasting procedures.
• Safely and effectively search prisoners.
• Monitor prisoners in a jail setting and to perform emergency first aid.
• Work rotating shift assignments.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be age eighteen (18) by date of application.
• Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade.
• Possession of a valid California Class C driver license.
• Type at a speed of 35 NWPM.
• Must obtain a Basic Public Safety Dispatch Certificate issued by Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) within one (1) year following hire date.

 
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Two (2) years of public contact experience (in person or over the telephone) demonstrating a general aptitude for working with the public in a multi-task environment
• Experience in a radio dispatching work setting.