Public Safety Dispatcher

State of Nevada • Reno, NV

13h • Onsite

About The Position

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) is recruiting for a Public Safety Dispatcher within the Law Enforcement Division. This position provides essential law enforcement and public safety dispatch services to State of Nevada Game Wardens, US Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers, Bureau of Land Management Rangers, and US Fish and Wildlife Officers via NDOW radio frequencies throughout the State of Nevada. The central dispatch center is located in Reno. The dispatch center operates from 6 am to 11 pm, with each shift lasting 10 hours. It is important to note that the NDOW dispatch center is not a 911 PSAP center and observes Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays as days off. Dispatchers also provide general dispatch services for all non-law enforcement NDOW employees in the field and for the department’s two helicopters. Responsibilities include answering incoming phone calls from the public, other dispatch centers, and law enforcement officers. Candidates must successfully pass a background check and maintain NCIC certification throughout their employment. This position requires working weekends, holidays, and shift work, with shifts assigned based on seniority.

Requirements

• Graduation from high school or equivalent education and one year of work experience; OR certification as a Public Safety Dispatcher; OR one year of experience as a Senior Communications Call Taker in Nevada State service
• Candidates are required to pass a background check and maintain NCIC certification throughout employment.
• Detailed knowledge of: capabilities and screen formats of criminal justice information systems; communications center functions and capabilities to train others.
• Working knowledge of: security, confidentiality and privacy regulations; maintenance contracts for resolution of equipment malfunctions; location of law enforcement units assigned geographically throughout the responsible area of the assigned Communications Center; agency procedures, policies, and programs; functions and communications procedures of other entities serviced; law enforcement terminology as applied to operating a computerized dispatch console; geography of Nevada and its major highways.
• Ability to: handle a large volume of radio, telephone and telecommunication traffic; work independently and follow through on assignments with minimal direction; law enforcement terminology as applied to operating a computerized law enforcement dispatch console; efficiently and accurately respond to requests for information using criminal justice information systems; recognize emergency situations and take appropriate action; and all knowledge, skills, and abilities required at the lower levels.

Responsibilities

• Operate dispatch equipment proficiently; determine which information resource to access and what should be transmitted for expediency and situational relevance; enter, retrieve, and edit data; ensure accurate storage of the system’s activities; destroy records in accordance with federal and State laws, regulations, policies, and procedures governing various criminal justice information systems; interpret information received and transmitted; access information resources and/or databases; and dispatch specialized emergency support units when appropriate.
• Provide dispatch support to various law enforcement entities and/or peace officers outside of the agency, following each entity’s procedural guidelines and ensuring contracted services are performed; ensure adherence to the laws, regulations, policies, and procedures governing various criminal justice information systems.
• Respond to routine and emergency telephone calls from citizens and law enforcement/criminal justice entities; take control of the conversation and extract pertinent information; determine whether the caller is authorized to receive the requested information; assess appropriate information resources; answer off-hour calls for other entities as assigned.
• Enter, modify, confirm, query, clear, and delete warrants by accessing various criminal justice information systems; produce warrant abstracts upon requests by law enforcement/criminal justice agencies as assigned.
• Provide daily and routine equipment maintenance by troubleshooting problems and correcting/adjusting if possible; consult manuals and vendor contracts; contact vendor or repair service for service call; and prepare written documentation of equipment problem and resolution.
• Assist in training new employees and provide orientation in accordance with communications center policies and procedures; observe and coach on dispatch work at the computerized consoles; and provide instruction regarding policies, procedures, and functionality of the various criminal justice systems.
• Perform related duties as assigned.
• Under limited supervision, incumbents perform the full range of duties described in the series concept.

What This Job Offers

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