Police Dispatcher

Job Description

This is a recruitment for Entry-Level Public Safety Dispatchers and for experienced Public Safety Dispatchers, or candidates who have successfully completed, or are currently enrolled in, the Public Safety Dispatcher Basic Course. Under supervision, receives and transmits emergency public safety messages by telephone, voice radio, and alarm signals, and performs related duties as required. Must work alternating shifts including some weekends and holidays.

Essential Job Duties

Secures and records information as to the exact location and circumstances of emergencies; uses voice radio to dispatch necessary equipment in accordance with predetermined plan, and notifies supervisor on duty; keeps radio contact with officers on assignment; keeps supervising officers informed of situations; maintains communication liaison with other agencies; studies and is familiar with locations of streets, buildings, and patrol beats; and performs miscellaneous clerical duties.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of: Police office practices and procedures and basic radio and telephone communications. Knowledge of geography of Montclair desirable.

Ability to: operate radio, telephone, and teletype equipment; work any shift (rotating every four months), or day of the week; reason and react effectively in emergency situations; cooperate with others; apply procedures for handling unique problems; work under pressure and shift suddenly to new tasks when priorities change; work rapidly and accurately with names, numbers, codes, and symbols; exercise good judgment with a memory for details; recognize and keep information confidential; and speak clearly and distinctly.

Education and Experience: High School graduate or G.E.D.; one year responsible general clerical, communication, or public service experience. Candidates who have not completed the POST Public Safety Dispatcher Basic Course prior to employment will be sent to the course during the first year of appointment as a dispatcher.

Special Skills: Type 40 Net Words Per Minute (WPM)

Selection Process

The Montclair Police Department offers full testing services for the position of Entry-Level Police Dispatcher through National Testing Network, Inc. To begin the application process for this position and schedule testing, go to select EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS, and sign up for the Montclair Police Department. Candidates who are experienced dispatchers or have successfully completed, or are currently enrolled in the Public Safety Dispatcher Basic Course do not have to complete the above NTN testing process.

What to expect at the National Testing Network website:

Completion of the NTN application process.

Review all information related to Montclair's Entry-Level Police Dispatcher position, including minimum requirements, salary, and benefits.

Detailed information about the testing process.

Schedule your own convenient test time. Tests are offered multiple times a week.

Take high quality job simulation tests in a standardized, fair testing environment.

Upon completion of the entry level exam, all candidate scores are automatically made available to the Montclair Personnel Department. As staffing needs require, the City of Montclair will review applications and test scores from NTN's candidate pool and invite selected candidates to participate in other stages of the selection process including an oral board interview. Selected candidates will be requested to submit a City Application and a Certificate of Typing Proficiency at 40 net wpm or better when invited to the next phase of the selection process. Typing Certificates must have been issued within the last 12 months of date submitted, and may be obtained from any qualified agency such as a college, trade school, or employment agency; requirements can be found on our website. No "on-line" typing tests will be accepted.

National Testing Network is a service provided to conduct entry-level testing in a standardized, professional environment. National Testing Network does not replace the City of Montclair's responsibility and decision making in the testing process. All candidate results are provided to the City of Montclair where the final decisions are made.

Benefits

Full-time employees are currently covered by the California Public Employees' Retirement System. The City contributes to medical, dental, and vision health plans for the employee with family coverage available. A term life insurance policy is paid by the City, as well as a long-term disability plan. To encourage employees to further their education in job-related fields, an educational subsidy is available upon completion of one-year probation. Nonshift employees receive 80 hours of vacation after one year of service; 120 hours after five years of service; 160 hours after ten years of service; and 200 hours after 20 years of service. Shift employees receive 145.21 hours of vacation after one year of service; 217.79 hours after five years of service; and 290.40 hours after ten years of service. Sick leave accumulates at the rate of eight hours per month. The City may credit an employee who is coming from another governmental agency with one half of his/her accumulated sick leave up to a maximum of 240 hours. Presently, 104 hours of paid holidays are provided each year for nonshift employees and 157.29 hours of paid holidays are provided each year for shift employees.