Police Communications Dispatcher

Police Communications Dispatcher

The Emeryville Police Department is accepting applications for Entry and Lateral Dispatchers. This position is open until filled. Emeryville is located at the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area. The City is centrally located and accessible, resting at the east landing of the Bay Bridge and bounded by Interstate freeways 80, 880, and 580. Its central location is the gateway to an extensive region that includes all major northern California cities, businesses, and universities. The City is proud of its reputation as a leader in community development, cutting edge programs, and progressive approaches to organizational issues. Emeryville has evolved from an industrial environment to a retail/technology community. The city and school district share a magnificent state-of-the-art school and community center complex, and the City is forging a new vision through its General Plan Update.

The Emeryville Police Department is a proactive, professional, public safety organization that prides itself on its thoughtful interactions and unwavering support with/for the community. The Department's culture preserves a family atmosphere while maintaining its professional status, which strongly emphasizes a collaborative approach to problem-solving. In addition, to the basic services such as patrol and dispatch, the Emeryville Police Department provides special services such as traffic, bicycle, foot patrol, K9, field evidence, investigations, youth diversion, crime analysis, and other services. Members of the Department pride themselves on being an organization that is respected by law enforcement peers and fully responsive to the public safety needs of the community. There is a strong commitment and dedication to making the City of Emeryville a safe environment to live and work. The Emeryville Police Department prides itself on providing a level of service that is unsurpassed. Each member of the Department is expected to live up to a unique "Statement of Values."

The 9-1-1 Dispatch Center provides a full array of public safety communications services for Police, Fire, and EMS on a 24-hour, 7-day basis. The Police Communications Dispatcher receives and transmits routine and 9-1-1 emergency telephone and radio calls, dispatches required personnel and/or equipment; performs responsible clerical work of moderate complexity; operates various dispatch center equipment including computer terminals; maintains equipment; and performs related work as required. Successful completion of the California Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Public Safety Dispatcher Basic Course is required within 12 months of hire and is a condition of passing the probationary period. The City of Emeryville Police Department will send employees to the course unless they are already in possession of the POST certification.

The Ideal Candidate will Possess the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities to:

• Answer 9-1-1 emergency and routine calls for service
• Dispatch appropriate personnel to location or incident scene
• Respond to needs of officers involved in law enforcement related activities
• Maintain composure during incident period and prioritize tasks according to importance
• Relay information to other agencies and coordinate mutual response radio traffic
• Operate a variety of equipment such as: Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, record management system (RMS), personal computer, on-line computer terminal, vehicle, multiple-line telephone and police radio
• Assess situations and make appropriate decisions consistent with established guidelines and training
• Maintain accurate department and law enforcement records and files
• Research and compile data and prepare reports of reported emergencies, equipment dispatched, and/or position of emergency
• Act as first line answering point for the department and respond to requests from the public
• Work various hours including rotating shifts, weekends, holidays, and overtime as required
• Effectively use the English language including spelling, vocabulary, punctuation, and grammar

For Entry Level Requirements:

• Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade
• Must be at least 18 years of age by date of appointment
• Experience in a customer setting, customer service involving public contact while performing multiple tasks is preferred
• Either possess a Dispatcher Academy Certificate or have completed the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery or passed the National Testing Network's (NTN) "Emergency Communications" test **must attach scores or have scores sent to Emeryville. See below in The Selection Process: Stage I: Application and Certificate (Pass/Fail) section.

For Lateral Level Requirements:

• Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12th) grade
• Must be at least 18 years of age by date of appointment
• Experience in a customer setting, customer service involving public contact while performing multiple tasks is preferred
• Possess a POST Public Safety Dispatcher Basic (or higher) Certificate **must attach to your application**

Licenses and Certifications:

• Must obtain a POST Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate prior to completion of probationary period.
• Typing Certificate (Entry Level only): The typing certificate must be issued within the last 6 months and demonstrate typing proficiency of at least 35 net wpm. The City will not accept typing certificates obtained from an on-line typing service. A list of agencies that provide typing certificates is listed below in The Selection Process: Stage I: Application and Certificate (Pass/Fail)
• Possession of a valid California Driver's License with a satisfactory driving record by date of appointment.

Other Requirements: Must possess the mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office and law enforcement communications equipment; have the stamina to maintain attention to detail and work on a computer for an extended period of time; eye sight sufficient to read data, memos, spreadsheets, vouchers, and computer screens; the manual dexterity to operate a personal computer, typewriter, photocopier, and word processor; the ability to sit for extended periods; the ability to stand, walk, bend, and reach above and below the shoulders; able to lift and carry objects weighing up to twenty (20) pounds; work occasional long hours; and hear tones, signals, radio and phone traffic.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience in dispatch or other law enforcement related field
• Bilingual
• Possession of College Credits
• Possession of a POST approved Dispatcher Basic Academy Certificate
• Possession of a POST Public Safety Dispatcher Basic Certificate or higher (obtained by passing a dispatcher academy and completing probation with any CA Law Enforcement agency)

Compensation and Benefits: The City provides a competitive compensation and benefits package:

• Retirement: New Members 2% @ 62 PERS Plan (based on highest three consecutive years); Classic Members – 2% @ 60 (based on highest three consecutive years); Under both plans, the employee pays the full employee contribution – (7% for Classic Members or 7.25% for New Members).
• Vacation: Employee accrues ten (10) working days per year. Maximum accrual of 2x annual accrual rate.
• Holidays: Fifteen (15) paid holidays per year, including four (4) floating holidays (pro-rated based on date of hire).
• Sick Leave: Fifteen (15) days per year, with unlimited accumulation.
• Health & Welfare: Medical (to a capped amount), Dental, and Vision care coverage paid by the agency for the employee and eligible dependents.
• Misc. Benefits: City provides Life/AD&D, long-term disability (LTD), and employee assistance program benefits.

A complete benefits summary can be found at: Summary of Benefits. Probationary Period/Representation Benefits: The probationary period for new employees is twelve (12) months, which may be extended by an additional three (3) months. This position is represented by SEIU, Local 1021. The Selection Process: Stage I: Application and Certificate (Pass/Fail) -The first stage in the selection process will consist of an application and certificate appraisal review (pass/fail). If you possess any of the following, you should attach them to your application.

• Dispatcher Academy Certificate or confirmation you have completed the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery (T-Score) or your test results from National Testing Network's (NTN) "Emergency Communications" test, which shows you passed the test. A minimum T-Score of 48 is passing. Passing test scores for the NTN "Emergency Communications" test are as follows: 53% for Call Taker, 64% for Notes, and 43% for