Public Safety Dispatcher Trainee (Ventura Police Department)

City of Ventura•Ventura, CA

15d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Ventura is hiring Public Safety Dispatcher Trainees! Start a rewarding career in public safety with the Ventura Police Department as the first point of contact for 911 emergency services. If you perform well under pressure, making logical decisions while gathering information in a fast-paced environment, the Public Safety Dispatcher Trainee position is for you! Public Safety Dispatcher Trainees are an entry-level classification and are normally expected to advance to the Public Safety Dispatcher level after one year.

Requirements

Combination of education, training, and experience equivalent to completion of high school.
Typing sufficient to perform the duties of the job.
One year of experience involving public contact, computer usage, or heavy telephone traffic.
Ability to perform well under pressure.
Ability to multitask, displaying solid memory retention.
Ability to excel in a fast-paced environment, thinking fast on your feet.
Ability to act as a problem solver.
Ability to enjoy nonroutine work.
Ability to type while listening and providing direction.
Ability to communicate with clarity verbally, providing information with little time to spare.
Ability to work at a computer for long periods of time.
Ability to interact with a variety of people daily, serving a diverse, multicultural, and multilingual community.
Ability to act with professionalism always, understanding performance is recorded and highly visible.
Pass rigorous testing and a background process.
Complete a Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training Dispatcher Course.
Successfully complete a 6-12 month on-the-job Communications Training Program.
Serve as a solo dispatcher under the supervision of the Department's Professional Standards Unit after completing training.
Complete an online City job application and supplemental questionnaire.
Pass an online assessment exam (may include Keyboarding, Data Entry/Call Summary, MS Office Skills Assessment, and Customer Service Interaction).
Complete and return a Pre-Investigative Questionnaire (PIQ).
Participate in department selection interviews.
Submit an online ESOPH background Personal History Statement (PHS).
Pass a polygraph.
Pass an extensive PD background investigation.
Pass a post-offer psychological examination.
Pass a post-offer medical examination.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience in a dispatching role.
Bilingual in Spanish.
Typing speed of 35 words per minute.

Responsibilities

Answer all Police Department calls, including 911 calls.
Handle Fire-related calls (transfer to Fire Department).
Handle all after-hours calls for Public Works and Records.
Operate eight (8) workstations in the call center.
Work four (4) ten-hour shifts, 4/10.
Participate in a rigorous, paid 120-hour offsite academy within the first year.
Receive on-site training to handle local emergency and non-emergency calls, radio traffic, after-hours records duties, and after-hours public works call-outs.
Receive extensive training on the Computer Aided Dispatch system, VESTA phone system, Motorola radio system, criminal justice system, various laws and procedures, law enforcement tactics and techniques, and familiarization with city geography.