Public Safety Dispatcher II (Lateral)

Salary: $118,955.20 – $152,734.40 Annually

Position Summary:

The City of Palo Alto is looking for qualified candidates for the Public Safety Dispatcher II (Lateral) position. Operating under general oversight, the Communications Public Safety Dispatcher II will handle the dispatch of emergency and non-emergency personnel and equipment for various user agencies. This includes responding to service calls covering police, fire, paramedics, ambulance, utilities, public works, and animal control services. Additionally, the role involves providing crucial information to both the public and user agencies. As the journey level in the Public Safety Dispatcher series, this role carries out a wide range of dispatch duties with a high level of autonomy. Duties include receiving assistance requests, assessing response urgency and type, dispatching personnel to handle reported incidents, and monitoring situations for changes and personnel safety during responses. The work often occurs under pressure.

Essential Functions:

• Receives telephone complaints concerning crimes and police emergencies and dispatches appropriate police patrol units by radio to investigate. Relays instructions and questions for field units.
• Receives telephone information concerning fire and medical emergencies and dispatches appropriate fire and ambulance units by radio. Relays instructions and questions from field units.
• Receives telephone complaints concerning utilities and public works emergencies and dispatches appropriate service units to make repairs. Relays instructions and questions from field units.
• Receives telephone complaints concerning animals and dispatches appropriate animal control units to investigate. Relays instructions and questions from field units.
• Receive and transmit the above information by operating communication consoles, two-way radio, telephone, paging, various computers including both manual and computer-aided dispatch systems, voice intercom, fire alarm and intrusion alarm equipment and other public safety 911 equipment and applications.
• Maintain appropriate records, computer data base, maps, diagrams, and written procedures relating to such activities.
• Operate conventional/automated office machines and equipment.

Requirements:

• High school graduate or GED,
• One year of public safety dispatching experience comprised of law enforcement or fire service dispatch responsibilities.

Preferred Requirements:

• Possession of a California P.O.S.T. Public Safety Dispatcher Basic Certificate.
• Experience with Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) protocols.
• Experience with CLETS/NCIC Databases.
• Possession of National Academy of Emergency Dispatch Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Certificate.