Public Safety Telecommunicator (Dispatcher)

Bellingham, WA
Bellingham Police Department

Salary: $30.63 Hourly

Closing Date: 5/31/2025

Position Summary:

A Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST) receives and processes voice, text and multimedia requests for police, behavioral health, fire, and medical emergency response. The incumbent in this position determines the nature, urgency, and jurisdiction of a report and either dispatches public safety personnel and equipment to respond or transfers the call to the appropriate jurisdiction. The PST enters information from the reporting party and responding units into a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) software program and continually updates the status of those responding to the incident via radio, CAD, and phone communication. The PST provides guidance and assistance to the public in life-safety situations; and coordinates appropriate responses to high-risk, high-stress operations, with the objective of keeping all participants safe. The What-Comm Emergency Communication Center (ECC) serves as the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for Whatcom County. This position is essential and must report to work during times when the City is closed.

Essential Functions:

  1. Receives, prioritizes, and routes emergent and non-emergent reports from the public to appropriate jurisdictions. Accurately documents the location, nature, and source of the emergency report into a computer terminal using computer-aided dispatch (CAD) software. Develops and maintains familiarity with major roads, local businesses, and geographic features.
  2. Professionally controls calls using de-escalation techniques and clear, effective verbal communication. Uses critical thinking and problem-solving skills to make decisions quickly in accordance with policy and procedures. Maintains a calm demeanor under chaotic and stressful circumstances, multiple conversations, and a frequently noisy environment. Employs effective stress management to maintain wellness and efficacy. Adheres to confidentiality, disclosure, and privacy related policies and laws.
  3. Relays incident information and/or dispatches appropriate Police personnel to the scene of the reported incident. Retrieves and evaluates information from multiple databases based on knowledge of dispatch and emergency response procedures. Regularly contacts and updates status of field units according to established procedures and protocols. Contacts various resources as requested by field units. Switches rapidly between emergent tasks, prioritizing duties as needed to support the safety of responders and citizens.
  4. Queries databases and evaluates warrant, order, stolen property, and missing person information. Enters stolen vehicles and missing persons or runaways into state and nationwide law enforcement databases and transmits requested information to law enforcement personnel in the field. Receives, documents, and processes incident information from various sources including but not limited to phone, text, TTY, relay services, telematics companies, and radio. Generates routine reports such as the incident history reports and incident shift summaries.
  5. Communicates with a variety of local, state, and federal agencies regarding law enforcement activity and resources available for emergencies.
  6. Develops and maintains working knowledge of best practices pertaining to public safety telecommunications. Maintains currency with industry changes and participates in continuing education and professional development.

Requirements:

  • Employment contingent upon passing a criminal convictions check, background investigation, polygraph examination, and fingerprinting. Subject to re-check every five years.
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain ACCESS Level 2 and CJIS Level 3 certification within six months of hire.
  • Must obtain and maintain Telecommunicator 1 & 2 certifications within twelve months of hire.
  • Must pass a hearing evaluation prior to hire.
  • Employment contingent upon passing a pre-employment drug test. (This position is considered a safety sensitive position; therefore, the pre-employment drug test includes testing for cannabis. Positive test results will exclude an applicant from being hired).
  • Must have a regular form of communication such as a land line telephone or a cell phone and the willingness and ability to respond to mandatory recall to duty.
  • Willingness and ability to work rotating shifts covering 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.
  • One year of experience in a position with intensive public contact.
  • Keyboard entry skills at a minimum of 40 wpm net.
  • Experience or training in the use of computer software such as word processing, spreadsheets, database management, desktop publishing programs or other business/educational software preferred.
  • Experience using multi-line phone systems preferred.
  • Previous experience in public safety dispatching preferred.
  • Must acquire within first year of training a working knowledge of the geography of Whatcom County to include: cities and towns, locations and names of highways, main streets, major buildings and businesses and establishments such as names of parks.
  • An individual in the What-Comm Public Safety Telecommunicator in Training position will move to the What-Comm Public Safety Telecommunicator I position in a non-competitive promotion upon successful completion of the initial training period and demonstrated proficiency in performing the call receiving function independently.