Public Safety Dispatcher

City of Los Banos•Los Banos, CA

About The Position

The Public Safety Dispatcher receives and transmits emergency and non-emergency calls from the public for police, fire, and other City services; prioritizes calls and dispatches appropriate units; maintains departmental reports, records, and files; searches inmates; and monitors and assists in jail operations. The position receives direction from the Dispatch Supervisor and/or Police Administrators. The dispatcher uses computer-aided dispatch, teletype, radio, and other systems to coordinate response, track unit status, and access public safety records. The role also includes clerical work, inmate and jail duties, maintaining manuals, training newly assigned personnel, and providing court testimony. Dispatchers are expected to provide reliable attendance, maintain confidentiality, use good customer service, and work rotating shift assignments. Applicants must submit a qualifying typing certificate: at least 35 words per minute, obtained in person (online certificates are not accepted), and no more than two years old as of the recruitment closing date. A Basic Public Safety Dispatch Certificate issued by POST must be obtained within one year after hire.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years old by the date of application.
Equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade.
Possession of a valid California Class C driver license.
Typing speed of at least 35 words per minute; applicants must submit a typing certificate obtained in person, no more than two years old as of the recruitment closing date. Online certificates are not accepted.
Must obtain a Basic Public Safety Dispatch Certificate issued by Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) within one year following the hire date.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
Ability to answer and prioritize emergency-service calls and dispatch appropriate units.
Ability to perform multiple cognitive and manual tasks simultaneously and remain composed when communicating with upset or irate members of the public.
Ability to operate dispatch, teletype, and other public safety communications and records systems and equipment.
Ability to analyze situations, establish priorities, adapt to changing situations, and determine effective courses of action.
Ability to interpret and apply laws, ordinances, and departmental policies and procedures and preserve confidentiality.
Ability to work with minimal supervision and exercise independent judgment.
Ability to learn and use standard broadcasting procedures.
Ability to safely search prisoners, monitor prisoners in a jail setting, and perform emergency first aid.
Ability to work rotating shift assignments.
Ability to sit at a desk or console for long periods, intermittently twist and reach, use a keyboard and communicate verbally by radio, and lift and carry up to 10 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Two years of public-contact experience, in person or by telephone, demonstrating aptitude for working with the public in a multitasking environment.
Experience in a radio dispatching work setting.

Responsibilities

Receive emergency and non-emergency calls for police, fire, and related services; determine the nature and location of emergencies, prioritize calls, and dispatch units according to established procedures.
Coordinate emergency calls and relay information and assistance requests involving other law enforcement agencies.
Use a computer-aided dispatch system to enter calls for service and radio traffic and monitor real-time incident status.
Maintain contact and status information for units on assignment and monitor outside public safety agency radio frequencies.
Enter, retrieve, and update information in teletype networks, including CLETS records concerning wants, warrants, and vehicle registration.
Type police reports and perform clerical work involving confidential records, warrants, teletypes, and other entries and updates.
Monitor closed-circuit television and alarm systems.
Search inmates, perform jail checks, and feed prisoners.
Update manuals to ensure accuracy and compliance with State and Federal laws.
Build and maintain positive working relationships with coworkers, City employees, and the public using good customer service practices.
Train newly assigned personnel.
Provide court testimony related to assigned duties.
Maintain reliable attendance and punctuality.
Perform other related duties as assigned.