Police Dispatcher

Oceanside, CA
MiraCosta Community College

Salary: $34.94 per hour

Position Summary:

Under general supervision, receive and prioritize emergency and non-emergency calls for service; provide police communications and dispatching for district facilities and sites via radio voice communication using a computer-aided dispatch system; coordinate with other agencies during in-progress calls and regional incidents; operate computerized records management and ancillary equipment in the processing of confidential and varied reports and data into records management systems; validate information and verify accuracy of data; may lead the work of Police Support Assistants and safety escorts on an assigned shift; and perform related duties as assigned.

Essential Functions:
1. Participate in selecting, training and providing day-to-day lead work direction to other staff; assign and monitor work for completeness, accuracy and conformance with district, depart­ment and legal/regulatory requirements and standards; monitor work flow to ensure mandated deadlines are being met in an optimal manner; provide information, instruction and training on work procedures and technical/legal/regulatory requirements; provide input to supervisor on employee work performance and behaviors; assist in ensuring a fair and open work environment in accordance with the district’s mission, goals and values.
2. Operate radio and automated telephone and computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems to receive and transmit routine and emergency calls from the public; evaluate, prioritize and sequence incoming information and determine nature and priority of calls and/or transfer calls to the appropriate agency; dispatch police department personnel and equipment to incidents according to established procedures.
3. Maintain radio contact with police units on assignments; notify other departments of needed support services; monitor radio frequencies for mutual aid; notify other jurisdictions when necessary to coordinate activities; give station identification as required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
4. Monitor the status of police units and their locations; respond to field unit requests via radio or telephone for information; support service calls and investigations by performing criminal history research inquiries on Department of Justice (DOJ), National Crime Information Service, FBI, CLETS and Stolen Vehicle Systems; coordinate police officers, college mental health resources and local hospitals as part of the Psychiatric Emergency Response Team.
5. Access local, state and national law enforcement telecommunications systems to enter, modify, update and retrieve data; make automated notifications to the DOJ and state-mandated programs and manage local supporting files.
6. Process and maintain a variety of complex documents and records including accident, crime and arrest reports, criminal and traffic warrants and related police documents according to established legal guidelines; maintain and process information on sex, arson and narcotics registrants, restraining orders and suspended/expelled students; copy and distribute infor­mation to appropriate department staff, other law enforcement agencies, the public and other employees according to local, state and federal guidelines.
7. Assist supervisor in tracking, collecting, reporting and distributing Clery data and reports; ensure accurate entry of police and student data into appropriate systems, files and data­bases; develop and maintain a variety of statistical records and reports; generate demo­graphic, crime and statistical reports for use by the Chief of Police.
8. Represent the police department to coordinate or assist in coordination of disaster prepared­ness, training and response; coordinate department communications when the Incident Command System or Emergency Operations Center is activated including sending public notifications and interacting with media and other agencies; maintain emergency prepared­ness roster and organizational flow chart.
Requirements:
1. Graduation from high school or GED equivalent;
2. Some college-level courses in criminal justice (or an equivalent combination of training and experience); and
3. One year of related law enforcement/emergency services/public safety dispatching experience.
4. OR an equivalent combination of training and experience.
5. Experience using CLETS (California Law Enforcement Telecommunication System) and CAD (computer-aided dispatch).

6. A valid California driver’s license and the ability to maintain insurability under the district’s vehicle insurance program.
7. A California POST Basic Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate is required within twelve months of hire and must be main­tained as a condition of continued employment.
8. CJIS Security NexTest certification required within six months of hire.
9. ICS 100, 200 and 300 are required within twelve months of hire.
10. Successful completion of a comprehensive background investigation is required, including a review of employment history, criminal conviction record, credit history, use of intoxicants and/or other controlled substances.
11. Psychiatric Emergency Response Team Training is desired.