Public Safety Dispatcher

Salary: $22.03 to $31.82 per hour.

Position Summary:

The Public Safety Dispatch Center is the processing point for virtually all police and fire department telephone and computer communications entering (or leaving) the police department. Additionally, the Public Safety Dispatcher has significant involvement with walk-in traffic and is also involved in the processing of written correspondence. The dispatcher has primary responsibility for the initial deployment of public safety personnel and equipment subject to department policy.

Essential Functions:

1. Responsible to be thoroughly familiar with the department’s procedures relating to the use of radio and other communications equipment and to maintain the computerized/manual call for service systems as well as the activity log.

2. Responsible to answer all telephone calls promptly and appropriately, and assist all complainants in a calm, civil, and professional manner.

3. Coordinate police, fire and ambulance activities at the scene of crimes, motor vehicle accidents fire scenes etc.

4. Dispatch police, fire and ambulance units as necessary and required.

5. Evaluate medical emergency situations and provide necessary assistance within the scope of training and procedure.

6. Responsible to be thoroughly familiar with emergency procedures that relate to matters requiring urgent police and fire attention so as to be capable of activating them immediately.

7. Acquire a thorough knowledge of the location and layout of streets, buildings, parks, housing areas and other significant areas of the community so as to maximize the accuracy and speed of dispatch.

8. Responsible to dispatch security, medical alert and fire alarms and dispatch appropriate response units.

9. Ensure that personnel who have been dispatched on calls are fully informed of all facts effecting the safety and efficiency of their response to the call.

10. Inform the Shift Commander when contact with an officer on patrol can not be made after a reasonable amount of time.

11. Monitor closed circuit television systems in order to insure station security and the proper supervision of persons confined.

12. Disseminate police information concerning wanted persons, stolen vehicles, missing persons, and other police information as may be received by the SPOTS computer, telephone or other means.

13. Render assistance to the members of the general public who make inquiries at Police Headquarters.

14. Recall off duty police personnel as may be necessary; recall off duty fire fighters as may be necessary in cases of serious fires or mutual aid assistance.

15. Report any deployment of Police Officers beyond their regularly assigned route or sectors to the Shift Commander or appropriate Division Commander.

16. Maintain equipment, especially the emergency call lines in working order and immediately report any malfunction or defect to the Communications Bureau Commander.

17. Record all significant communications as required by departmental procedures. Maintain the departmental daily log insuring an accurate recording of calls received and other significant events.

18. Explain departmental policy to the public when relative to the provision of police services.

19. Properly re-route calls for service where the offense/incident occurred in another jurisdiction.

20. Perform other duties as may be required.

21. Perform other related duties as required by the Chief of Police.

Requirements:

• High School diploma or GED required.
• A two- or four-year degree from an accredited college is preferred.