Emergency Communications Dispatcher I Lateral

City of Spokane•City of Spokane, WA

About The Position

Dispatches public safety resources and transmits messages and general information for police, fire, other public safety, and city government organizations. The position may involve receiving materials containing graphic or emotionally distressing content; employees must process such information calmly and maintain professional composure while coordinating emergency response. The dispatcher sends appropriate emergency services to assist the public and public safety partners using radio, computer equipment, and a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system. The position maintains contact with field units, monitors their status and location, responds to their calls and transmissions, and assists with requests and system queries. It also retrieves information from state and national crime information systems; enters and updates detailed call and premise information; maintains logs, listings, schedules, and files; answers, prioritizes, and routes emergency and non-emergency calls and text messages; and may testify in court. The position also guides and mentors newer employees, supports their hands-on learning in daily operations, triages incidents according to established policies and procedures, and performs related work as required.

Requirements

One year of continuous experience, or equivalent hours, as an emergency communications dispatcher, including fire or law enforcement dispatch, with employment within the last eighteen months.
Experience using a Computer Aided Dispatch System.
Obtain and maintain required certifications in approved emergency communications protocols and software, including Washington State Public Safety Telecommunicator certification, ACCESS II certification, CPR, and Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD).
Pass a thorough background investigation, including review of criminal history.
Pass a skills simulation examination assessing keyboarding, decision making, data entry, memory recall, reading comprehension, and map reading.
Access to a computer to complete the online examination; applicants without access may notify Civil Service about a computer or use a local public library reservation.

Responsibilities

Dispatch emergency services for police, fire, or other government resources using radio, computer equipment, and the CAD system.
Maintain contact with field units, monitor their safety, status, and location, communicate situation updates, and respond appropriately to unit calls and transmissions.
Assist field units with requests and inquiries, including system query responses.
Retrieve information from state and national crime information systems and process queries in the computerized crime information system.
Enter and update detailed information in computer terminals, including the nature and location of calls and premise histories.
Prepare and maintain logs, listings, schedules, and files.
Answer, prioritize, and route emergency and non-emergency telephone calls and text messages.
Guide and mentor newer employees and support them as they gain hands-on experience in daily operations.
Triage incidents using established policies and procedures.
Testify in court when required.
Perform related work as required.