COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR (EXPERIENCED)

Description

SALARY

June 24, 2023: $6,009 - $7,448 Monthly

June 22, 2024: $6,309 - $7,821 Monthly

June 21, 2025: $6,625 - $8,213 Monthly

This posting is for applicants who already possess a Peace Officer Standards and Training ( POST) Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate AND are currently working (or have worked in the last 24 months) as a public safety dispatcher in a California law enforcement agency, having completed two (2) years of employment .

DUTIES SUMMARY
The fundamental reason for the existence of this classification is to receive and transmit information in the Police Communications Center via telephone, radio calls, written and coded information using a computer aided dispatch system (CADS).

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This position is assigned to the Police Communications Center, which is a 24-hour, seven-days-per-week operation, requiring shift coverage. Incumbents must work assigned shift and must be proficient at multi-tasking. There is a high premium placed on the accuracy and speed of information gathering and maturity in decision making of employees.

Examples of Essential Duties

Under immediate supervision, operates a computer aided dispatch system to send police units in response to emergency calls and other public service needs; determines priorities of all calls and prioritizes responses when police units are needed in a number of situations which exceed available units; evaluates situations to determine appropriate units to dispatch based on availability, priority and location of units; dispatches backup units if appraisal of situation suggests the need for such support or is requested by officers; with the aid of detailed maps may direct the police units to locations; obtains required information in discussion with emergency caller; uses Orange County radio system in dispatching units; performs complaint writer function which requires receiving telephone and radio calls and typing information including codes into the CADS to create a call for service; monitors Police Building entrances on audio and visual security systems to prevent unauthorized entrance; transfers emergency information to other agencies based on information extracted from the caller; performs other related duties as assigned.
Communication Operators receive and record calls on the Public Safety Computer system, dispatch police units to emergency and public service calls. There is a high premium placed on the accuracy and speed of information gathering and maturity in decision making of employees in the Communications Center. Cooperative work relationships are essential.

The preceding duties have been provided as examples of the essential types of work performed within this job classification. City Council/Administration at its discretion, may add, modify, change or rescind work assignments as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education, training, and experience that would likely provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform in the position is qualifying. A typical combination includes:

Knowledge of : During probation the following knowledge must be acquired: codes, practices and procedures used to transmit information to units in the field and locations of streets and buildings.

Ability to : Ability to understand complex instructions which are presented orally or in writing; read street maps and quickly find locations; quickly evaluate an emergency situation and develop logical working solutions; keep up with fast pace of incoming calls and transmitted information; successfully perform multi-tasking duties; speak clearly and confidently; gain cooperation and cooperate with others; apply procedures for handling unique problems; exercise good judgment with memory for details; recognize and keep information confidential; be reliable and dependable; read, comprehend, interpret and utilize instructions, manuals and other materials applicable to this area; work all assigned shifts, including weekends and holidays; provide quality customer service.

Education:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• POST Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate (issued by the State of California, Department of Justice). A copy of the certificate must be turned in at your oral exam.
• (Please Note: This is not the 120-hour Basic Public Safety Dispatch Course Certificate)

Experience :

• Must be currently working, or have worked in the last 24 months , as a public safety dispatcher in a California law enforcement agency AND have completed two (2) years of employment, including successful completion of the probationary period.
• Must be available to work ALL assigned shifts, weekends and holidays; Pass comprehensive background investigation and psychological examination.
• Must type 40 words per minute (net). A typing certificate, as described below, must be turned in at or before the oral exam. You may submit a copy of your typing certificate to: MFrame@hbpd.org.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURE:

• An official on-line application must be completed in its entirety . Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
  
• A copy of your POST Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate (issued by the State of California, Department of Justice) must be turned in at the oral exam. Certificates of Completion issued by a Dispatcher Academy is unacceptable.
• A typing certificate must be turned in at or before the oral exam. Specific instructions regarding acceptable certificates are listed below.
• All applications will be closely reviewed for relevant experience, education, and training. Not all candidates meeting the minimum requirements will necessarily be invited to the next phase which includes an oral exam (weighted 100%).
• Candidates successfully completing the oral exam will be placed on an employment eligible list from which hires may be made. The employment eligible list is valid for up to one year, unless exhausted sooner.
• Candidates considered for hire must undergo a comprehensive background investigation, which includes (but is not limited to) LiveScan fingerprinting, polygraph exam, credit check, reference/employer checks, DOJ and FBI checks, etc.
• Upon a conditional offer of employment, a pre-placement psychological evaluation, medical evaluation and drug screening must be completed with acceptable results.
• Upon hire, employee is subject to further reporting from DOJ via subsequent arrest notification.

Note: Our primary means of communication with applicants is via email; therefore, please include a valid email address on your application.

TYPING CERTIFICATIONS :

1. Candidates must provide proof of required typing skill of 40 wpm net (gross minus number of errors). We will accept typing certificates issued within the last 12 months, from an employment or other public agency.

2. Certificates must be on official letterhead from the agency and must include a phone number and name of contact person in order to verify information.

3. Typing tests may also be taken at the locations listed below. Please call for appointments and costs.

HUNTINGTON BEACH ADULT SCHOOL
17231 Gothard Street
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
714-842-4227

FOCUS EMPLOYMENT INC.
2400 E. Katella Ave. Ste. 800
Anaheim, CA 92806
(714) 848-6129

4. Alternatively, candidates may request to take a typing test on site on the day of their oral exam. Appointments shall be made in advance by sending an email request to: MFrame@hbpd.org.

Supplemental Information

See Physical task questionnaires. Employee accommodations for physical or mental disabilities will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Public Employee Disaster Service Worker: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all Huntington Beach city employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster.

COMMON DISQUALIFIERS
Please review the following common disqualifiers. If any items listed pertain to you, you will be automatically disqualified in the background investigation. You may, at this time want to screen yourself and withdraw prior to starting the recruitment process.

Illegal use or possession of drugs
The following examples of illegal drug use or possession may be considered automatic disqualifiers for applicants, with some exceptions:

• Any adult use or possession of a drug classified as a hallucinogenic within three years prior to application for employment.
• Any other illegal adult use or possession of a drug not mentioned above (including cocaine) within three years prior to application for employment.
• Any illegal adult use or possession of a drug while employed in any law enforcement capacity, military police, or as a student enrolled in college accredited courses related to the criminal justice field.
• Any adult manufacture or cultivation of a drug or illegal substance.
• Failure to divulge to the Department any information about personal illegal use or possession of drugs.
• Any drug test of the applicant, during the course of the hiring process, where illegal drugs are detected.
• The following examples of illegal drug use or possession will be considered in relationship to the overall background of that individual and may result in disqualification:
  • Any illegal use or possession of a drug as a juvenile.
  • Any illegal adult use or possession of a drug that does not meet the criteria of the automatic disqualifiers specified above (e.g., cocaine use longer than three years.)
  • Any illegal or unauthorized use of prescription medications.

Motor Vehicle Operations

• Receipt of three or more moving violations (or any single violation of a potential life threatening violation, such as reckless driving, speed contest, suspect of a pursuit, etc.) within three years prior to application. Moving violations for which there is a factual finding of innocence shall not be included.
• Involvement as a driver in two or more chargeable (at fault) collisions within three years prior to date of application.
• A conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs within three years prior to application or any two convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Arrests

• Conviction of any criminal offense classified as a misdemeanor under California law within three years prior to application.
• Conviction for two or more misdemeanor offenses under California law as an adult.
• Conviction of any offense classified as a misdemeanor under California law while employed as a peace officer (including military police officers.)
• Admission(s) of having committed any act amounting to a felony (including felony-misdemeanor offenses) under California law, as an adult, within five years prior to application or while employed as a peace officer (including military police officers.)
• Admission(s) of administrative conviction of any act while employed as a peace officer (including military police officers) involving lying, falsification of any official report or document, or theft.
• Admission(s) of any act of domestic violence as defined by law, committed as an adult.
• Admission(s) of any criminal act, whether misdemeanor or felony, committed against children including but not limited to: molesting or annoying children, child abduction, child abuse, lewd and lascivious acts with a child, or indecent exposure. Acts of consensual unlawful intercourse accomplished between two minors shall not be included, unless more than four years difference in age existed at the time of the acts.
• Having any outstanding warrant of arrest at the time of application.
• Conviction of a felony under Federal or California Law.

Integrity

• Any material misstatement of fact or significant admission/omission during the application or background process may be disqualifying, including inconsistent statements made during the initial background interview (Personal History Statement or Supplemental Questionnaire) or polygraph examination or discrepancies between this background investigation and other investigations conducted by other law enforcement agencies.
• Any forgery, alteration, or intentional omission of material facts on an official employment application document or sustained episodes of academic cheating.

Tattoos

• Employees shall not display any tattoos, body art, brand, scarification or mutilation while on-duty or when wearing any part of the Police uniform. All visible tattoos, body art, brands, scarification or mutilation shall be covered by an approved uniform or by wearing a skin patch of neutral tone.
• This policy also does not apply to Police Recruits while they are attending a Police Academy or participating in Academy sponsored functions. The policy will apply to Police Recruits while they are performing any official duty, in uniform, outside of the Police Academy.

Body Art

• Body piercing or alteration to any area of the body visible in any authorized uniform or attire that is a deviation from normal anatomical features and which is not medically required is prohibited. Such body alteration includes, but is not limited to:
  • Tongue splitting or piercing.
  • The complete or transdermal implantation of any material other than hair replacement.
  • Abnormal shaping of the ears, eyes, nose or teeth.
  • Branding or scarification.

Work Traits

• Having been disciplined by any employer (including military) as an adult for abuse of leave, gross insubordination, dereliction of duty, or persistent failure to follow established policies and regulations.
• Having been involuntarily dismissed (for any reason other than layoff) from two or more employers as an adult.
• Having held more than seven paid positions with different employers within the past four years, or more than 15 paid positions with different employers in the past ten years (excluding military). Students who attend school away from their permanent legal residence may be excused from this requirement.
• Having current financial obligations for which legal judgments have not been satisfied, currently having wages garnished, or any other history of financial instability.
• Uttering any epithet derogatory of another person's race, religion, gender, national origin or sexual orientation.
• Having been disciplined by any employer as an adult for fighting in the workplace.

The City of Huntington Beach offers a comprehensive benefit package to Police Officers' Association/Non-Sworn (Miscellaneous) members including:

The SALARY RANGE is composed of five steps. Merit step increases are based on satisfactory performance.

BILINGUAL PAY, 5% for qualified employees.

PROMOTIONS within the City are based upon the merit system principles emphasizing individual ability and utilizing competitive examinations.

HOLIDAY PAY IN-LIEU: 120 hours per year.

GENERAL LEAVE with pay is granted in the amount of 176 hours per year for the first four years of continuous service, up to 256 hours per year after fourteen years of continuous service.

TUITION REIMBURSEMENT is available for eligible employees to develop their knowledge and abilities.

GROUP INSURANCE PROGRAMS are available to eligible City employees. These programs include medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurances.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS are available where employees use pre-tax salary to pay for regular child care, adult dependent care and/or medical expenses.

RETIREMENT BENEFITS are provided by the California Public Employee's Retirement System. Every regular employee becomes a member immediately upon employment. A portion of the employee contribution is paid by the City for a 3.0% @ 50 (safety) and 2.5% @ 55 (miscellaneous) benefit plan. Effective January 1, 2013, the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act will apply to new members of CalPERS. A new member is defined as any of the following:
• A new hire who is brought into CalPERS membership for the first time on or after 1/1/13, and who has no prior membership in a California public retirement system.

• A new hire who is brought into CalPERS membership for the first time on or after 1/1/13, and who is not eligible for reciprocity with another California public retirement system.

• A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to 01/01/13, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS employer after a break in service of greater than six (6) months.

The benefit formula, final compensation period, maximum pensionable compensation, and member contribution rate for new miscellaneous members under PEPRA is represented in the table below.

Benefit Formula: Miscellaneous: 2% at age 62

Final Compensation Period: 3-year Final Compensation

Member Contribution Rate as a percentage of payroll: 9.00% of Reportable Compensation (eff. 7/1/23)

Maximum Pensionable Compensation: $136,440

All employees hired on or after January 1, 2013, will be subject to CalPERS membership review for applicability of PEPRA. Please be advised that new COHB employees not subject to PEPRA and new members subject to PEPRA may also be subject to the terms and conditions of an unexpired Memorandum of Understanding for their respective association.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Two voluntary deferred compensation 457 plans are available.

CREDIT UNION membership is available to all City employees and provides access to low interest loans.

JOB SHARING opportunities for eligible employees.

NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute a contract expressed or implied, and any provisions contained herein may be modified or revoked without notice.

For a more detailed overview of the benefits, review the Memorandum of Understanding and Side Letters at: MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDINGS Click on the links under "Police Officers' Association".

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• City of Huntington Beach

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