Public Safety Dispatcher

City of Kenai•Kenai, AK

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Public Safety Dispatcher is an entry-level position in the Communications division of the City of Kenai Police Department. Under general supervision, the Dispatcher coordinates Police, Fire, and EMS responses to protect life and property through prompt, courteous, and efficient call processing and dispatching. The role transmits, receives, and relays information to local, state, and federal government entities and performs general clerical and data-entry duties. The position involves daily contact with members of the public and government agencies, including during emergencies and stressful situations. Dispatchers must direct conversations, exercise discretion when handling sensitive information, and maintain situational awareness while managing multiple tasks. The role requires professional communication and technical skills, reliable attendance, and the ability to perform duties accurately with minimal or no supervision. Dispatch coverage is provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays, with varied shifts and possible shift extensions or emergency call-outs.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years of age.
Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Must pass a drug screening test, criminal background check, and other background investigations.
Must not have criminal history that would bar access to APSIN under state and federal laws and regulations.
Must possess a combination of training and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential job functions.
Must obtain and maintain APSIN security clearance standards.
Must be able to work varied shifts, including day or night shifts, long shifts, holidays, shift extensions, and potentially emergency call-outs when available.
Must be able to communicate verbally in person, by radio, and by telephone; use computers, radios, telephones, and other equipment; and meet the stated vision and hearing requirements.
Must be able to work in confined spaces, sit for extended periods, work long periods without breaks, and exert more than 40 pounds of force occasionally.

Nice To Haves

Strong oral communication skills.
Work experience dealing with people involved in stressful situations.
Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and in highly stressful situations.
Two years of experience as a public safety dispatcher is an exceptional qualification that may support compensation above the minimum.

Responsibilities

Provide first-responder assistance in medical emergencies according to National Academy of Emergency Dispatch guidelines.
Receive, classify, and prioritize 9-1-1, emergency, and non-emergency calls from the public.
Operate 9-1-1 telephone equipment, computer-aided dispatch systems, multi-channel radios, computer terminals, and related communications applications.
Evaluate requests for service, determine their nature, location, and priority, create calls for service, and assign and dispatch personnel according to response criteria, policies, and procedures.
Transfer calls to appropriate agencies and obtain or dispatch additional support services as necessary.
Track department personnel and equipment deployments to maintain situational awareness.
Enter, modify, and retrieve data across multiple computer programs and databases.
Monitor City-wide and airport alarm systems.
Prepare and maintain reports, logs, files, forms, statistical data, correspondence, and documents for routing, including data entry for other state agencies.
Provide clerical assistance, greet the public, respond courteously to inquiries, provide information within the assigned area, resolve complaints, and correct citations as necessary.
Maintain strict confidentiality of calls, conversations, and written materials.
Read and understand legal and non-legal documents, including driving records, criminal histories, citations, domestic violence paperwork, no-code death advisements, and warrants.
Communicate and coordinate with coworkers, the public, and others while maintaining composure in stressful situations, including interactions involving verbal or mental abuse.
Attend department and other training programs; assist with training new dispatchers as required.
Obtain and maintain security clearance standards set by the Alaska Public Safety Information Network (APSIN).
Perform assigned duties accurately and promptly, maintain the physical ability to perform essential functions, maintain regular and reliable attendance, and perform other duties as assigned.