Police Dispatcher I - Entry Level

Job Characteristics

***OPEN & PROMOTIONAL JOB OPPORTUNITY***

Police Dispatcher I

Please note: This position is open until filled and may close at any time.

The City of Concord's Police Department is currently seeking customer-service oriented individuals who enjoy working in a highly productive yet fast-paced environment to serve as their next Police Dispatcher.

The Police Department:
The members of the Concord Police Department are dedicated to providing the highest quality police services in order to enhance community safety, protect life and property, and reduce crime and the fear of crime. To do this, we pledge to develop a partnership with the community, lead a community commitment to resolve problems, and improve the safety and quality of life in our city.

What you will be doing in this role:
Dispatchers are an integral part of the Police Department by acting as a critical link between the community and police units in the field. They help maintain the safety of our community by taking command of situations in a sensitive and straightforward manner while also showing consideration and respect to others. They receive emergency and non-emergency calls and act as the liaison between the community, other agencies, department personnel, and field units.

We are looking for someone who:

• Can assess situations accurately, make quick decisions, and use sound judgement
• Has excellent oral and written communication skills
• Is naturally compassionate and comfortable speaking to individuals who are emotional or stressed
• Can multi-task and quickly prioritize needs
• Can work in a collaborative team environment and take instruction well
• Stay composed and control their own emotions
• Has the technological skills to operate multiple computers, programs, radios and recording equipment
• Has excellent attention to detail and organization skills
• Is familiar with or can quickly learn the city of Concord and can read maps to find routes, locations, and addresses
• Is flexible and can adapt to any situation
• Embraces and embodies the City’s Mission, Vision and Values .

EXCELLENT BENEFITS PACKAGE
This position is represented by Teamsters Local 856 and receives an excellent benefits package, including but not limited to:

• $2.00/hour shift differential for night shift and $2.50/hour for grave shift
• $120/month bilingual pay for qualifying languages
• Generous contributions to health, dental and vision plans
• Employer paid life insurance and contributions to retirement plans
• Fully paid tuition reimbursement program
• Employer paid Employee Assistance Program and robust peer support program

SELECTION PROCESS

1. Submit a completed City of Concord employment application and the required supplemental question responses online at www.cityofconcord.org . Only application materials submitted online will be accepted.

2. All qualified applications and supplemental responses will be competitively evaluated, and the most qualified candidates will be invited to an online examination which will include a Criticall 911 Dispatcher Test and typing test. For more information regarding the Criticall exam, answers to frequently asked questions, and a test preparation guide, please visit criticall911.com .

3. Successful candidates will be placed on the hiring list and referred tot the department for further consideration to fill the current regular vacancy, as well as others occurring over the next 12 months. Additional examination steps may include a dispatcher orientation, panel interview, sit along, polygraph, and thorough background check.

POLICE DISPATCHER I

Purpose

In support of police law enforcement and other public safety functions, performs activities related to the processing of service requests including communications and dispatch, status monitoring, information development and communication, and records and files maintenance in a computer-aided environment; performs related and other work as required all within the context of the City's Mission of providing responsive, cost effective, and innovative local government services through a collaborative effort with the community to make Concord a city of the highest quality.

Equipment, Methods & Guidelines

Uses computer-aided dispatch system, including 911 emergency telephone, Telephone Device for the Deaf (TDD) and other multi-line telephone systems, various law enforcement telecommunications systems, multi-channel radio console with headsets and telephone handsets, video display terminals, computer keyboards, and alarm systems. Resource materials include hardware and software documentation, Dispatcher Training Manual, Dispatcher Training Guide, call-out schedules, maps, standardized service request classifications, level of response decision criteria, policies, regulations, operating procedures, directives, and violation codes contained in both City and other agency reference documents and manuals.

Working Conditions

Work is located in the Police Communications Center with variable lighting intensity and background noise. Work includes pressures generated by the necessity for appropriate and timely responses and follow-up required by emergency and routine events that often occur simultaneously. Work also involves prolonged periods of sitting. Incumbents are subject to shift assignments including evenings, weekends, and holidays; and to shift holdovers, early work calls, and scheduled overtime.

Physical Demands

Work emphasizes clear speech, visual and hearing acuity, and manual dexterity; prolonged periods of sitting and of wearing a headset; may occasionally perform moderate lifting (such as 30-50 pound boxes of computer paper), carrying, pushing, pulling and stooping. Must be able to work in an environment with randomly occurring periods that are dominated by crisis situations and stress filled working conditions.

Supervisory Guidance Received/Given

Supervision received is intended to prescribe both general and detailed methods for achieving objectives. This is the entry level dispatcher classification and incumbents' activities are subject to close monitoring in an extended on-the-job training regime.

Examples of duties include, but are not limited to
Under close observation, receives, interprets, classifies, prioritizes and responds to call of a routine and emergency nature, including those calls involving life-threatening situations. Enters relevant information by computer keyboard and, as appropriate, transmits message for dispatching.Under close observation assigns calls to police units for necessary action, determining how many and which units are required for response. May coordinate with patrol supervisors regarding deployment of personnel. Visually monitors video display terminals and aurally monitors police radio frequencies to ensure correct status of officers and pending and dispatched calls, making "on-line changes" via keyboard as appropriate. Calls out Public Works standby personnel, performs call outs for various local government entities, and monitors local government radio for their status.Determines appropriate communications or research channels selecting from emergency telephone lines, radio room telephone lines, business telephone lines, police radio channels, other agency radio channels, and manual computerized information systems.Under close observation, provides information to officers expeditiously, in areas such as warrants, vehicles, driver's licenses, parole, and criminal history information. Interprets or clarifies coded responses from various systems for police officers or other parties. Confirms warrants with responsible agencies, receives warrants and updates status of warrants.As acquired skills develop, accesses and updates information in a variety of on-line Law Enforcement data systems, including systems which contain confidential data.Develops, confirms, and relays information by contacting persons such as those in the internal chain of command; relatives of those involved in incidents; employers; hospitals; sworn and non-sworn public safety personnel at other agencies; other City departments; ambulance services; detoxification centers; tow companies; attorneys; state parole; animal control; commercial establishments; alarm companies; and schools.Monitors other public safety and emergency preparedness radio traffic; fire panel and security system boards; local government radio channels; and jail and complaint desk alarms, and takes appropriate actions.Maintains various logs and records of activities, such as radio transmissions, telephone calls received, call-outs and tow requests, equipment failure log, and personal time keeping and attendance.Follows defined alternative procedures in the event of computer or other equipment malfunction such as performing shut down and start up procedures. Performs various tasks to ensure proper operation of equipment such as setting and resetting computer system, video display terminals, mobile data terminals and printers; and changing print ribbons, paper, and recording tapes.Performs activities related to the operation of a county-wide law enforcement radio system (CLERS) such as monitoring radio channel and issuing all points bulletins following county protocol and procedures.Promotes the City's Mission to make Concord a city of the highest quality by providing responsive, cost-effective, and innovative government services; understands and subscribes to the Vision and Values Statement adopted by the City.Performs other work as assigned.
Qualifications

Knowledge and Abilities:

Basic knowledge of the use of data processing equipment for data entry systems. Ability to read, comprehend, and retain relevant sections of various California codes such as the Penal, Health and Safety, Municipal, Welfare and Institutions, and Vehicle codes; interdepartmental regulations, policies and procedures; various hardware and software documentation; Federal Communications Commission Regulations.

Ability to learn and make effective use of the resources, equipment, methods, procedures, and nomenclature included in and associated with computer-aided dispatch and automated information systems and other aspects of the work; to learn the geographic layout of the City, including location of streets, street names, freeways, shopping centers, industrial parks, hotels, and other landmarks. Ability to remain calm in situations of stress; to assess events quickly and accurately; to adapt communications and behavioral styles appropriately in response to individuals and situations; to obtain and accurately record required information; to effectively classify and prioritize service requests; to act promptly and decisively; to make acceptable decisions; to quickly search and find information from resource systems, manuals, maps and other documents and to accurately and concisely convey such information orally and in writing; to spell accurately and use correct grammar; to speak clearly, concisely and audibly; to perform multiple tasks simultaneously; to meet the physical requirements of the work; to understand and carry out oral and written instructions; and to establish and maintain cooperative and effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education: Satisfactory completion of high school or the equivalent.

Experience: Two years of related work experience that has provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the duties of a law enforcement dispatcher in a computer-assisted environment.

Other

Ability to operate an alpha-numeric keyboard with sufficient speed and accuracy to provide efficient input into a computer terminal, measured by the ability to type at a rate of 35 words per minute (net).

Must have normal (or correctable to normal) hearing and eyesight and a clear and audible voice for radio and telephone communications.

Must successfully pass the dispatcher testing administered by the City in accordance with POST Standard Section 1018(c).

Must successfully complete a thorough background investigation as a condition of employment.

A California Driver's License and a satisfactory driving record are conditions of initial and continued employment.

The City of Concord takes pride in offering a generous benefits program that provides flexibility for the diverse and changing needs of our qualifying employees.

For a complete overview, click here .
Below is a brief listing of what the City offers:

• Dental & Vision Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Health Insurance
• Holidays
• Life Insurance
• Pre-tax Savings Benefits
• Retiree Medical (3 levels based on date of hire)
• Retirement Program
• Short-term Disability*and Long-term Disability
• Social Security/Medicare
• Vacation & Sick Leave

*Not available for sworn personnel.

Closing Date/Time: Continuous

Concord, California United States View Map