Montana Highway Patrol Dispatcher

State of Montana • Fort Harrison, MT

1d • $27 - $33 • Onsite

About The Position

The Montana Highway Patrol Communications Center provides communication and support services for Montana Highway Patrol Troopers, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Game Wardens, Montana Department of Transportation Motor Carrier Services Officers, Montana Department of Justice employees, Montana Department of Corrections Probation and Parole Officers, and coordinates with numerous other federal, state, and local agencies to uphold public safety. The 24-hour center operates at all hours, year-round, including weekends and holidays. The center is located on the west-end of Helena at Fort Harrison and provides centralized dispatch services to the state of Montana.

Dispatchers answer emergency and non-emergency calls, determine the correct response, coordinate and dispatch law enforcement units to incident locations. Dispatchers transmit and receive information via two-way radio communication and query law enforcement databases for information in support of officer safety and the execution of law enforcement units’ duties. Dispatchers also coordinate with other public safety agencies and tow-truck companies to facilitate the appropriate response to incidents.

Dispatchers receive and handle calls from citizens who, at times, can be difficult to communicate with (upset, abusive, intoxicated, suicidal, very young/old, or speech impaired) and must be able to tolerate a high degree of stress and remain calm under emotionally challenging circumstances and/or during emergency conditions.

The center is structured into 3 teams (day shift, afternoon shift, and night shift), and each team is led by a shift supervisor who works alongside them. Dispatchers perform their duties in shift work under supervision of a shift supervisor. Dispatchers work a set schedule consisting of 5 8-hour shifts or 4 10-hour shifts and the work schedules are bid on by seniority, annually.

Requirements

• Must be a citizen of the United States.
• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Must be fingerprinted to disclose any criminal record.
• May not have been convicted of a crime for which the person could have been imprisoned in a federal or state penitentiary.
• Must be of good moral character as determined by a background check.
• Must be a high school graduate or equivalent.
• Recognize and communicate standard alphanumeric sequences (license plates, vehicle identification numbers, driver license numbers, addresses, highways/mile markers).
• Operate a computer terminal, multi-line phone system and two-way radio system.
• Type at a speed of not less than 40 words per minute.
• Work under stress and maintain composure.
• Sit/stand for prolonged periods in a confined space.
• Refer to and follow policies and procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality of privileged information.
• Document and disseminate information quickly and accurately by phone, radio, in-person, and through a variety of other systems.
• Hear, comprehend, and multi-task in a fast-paced/noisy environment.
• Provide effective public safety related services when dealing with both routine and emergency situations.
• Perform some light lifting, stooping, and bending in the process of working with files and performing routine office duties.

Nice To Haves

• New employees may be credited with up to three years’ previous related experience with other law enforcement agencies.

Responsibilities

• Answer emergency and non-emergency calls.
• Determine the correct response to calls.
• Coordinate and dispatch law enforcement units to incident locations.
• Transmit and receive information via two-way radio communication.
• Query law enforcement databases for information in support of officer safety and the execution of law enforcement units’ duties.
• Coordinate with other public safety agencies and tow-truck companies to facilitate the appropriate response to incidents.
• Handle calls from citizens who may be upset, abusive, intoxicated, suicidal, very young/old, or speech impaired.
• Tolerate a high degree of stress and remain calm under emotionally challenging circumstances and/or during emergency conditions.
• Perform duties in shift work under supervision of a shift supervisor.
• Work a set schedule consisting of 5 8-hour shifts or 4 10-hour shifts.

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• Retirement plans
• Generous paid vacation, sick and holidays
• Pre-tax Flexibility Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• State of Montana employment may qualify for student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED