Police Dispatcher

Bell Gardens; Bell Gardens (CA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Bell Gardens Police Department is seeking a Police Dispatcher to handle emergency and non-emergency calls, dispatch units via CAD and radio, and maintain accurate records.

The role requires the ability to stay calm under pressure, clear communication, and flexibility to work various shifts including weekends and holidays; POST testing may be required.

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school or equivalent; and two years of typing/clerical work with public contact.
• Typing proficiency requirement: 40 wpm (certificate preferred).

Responsibilities

• Receives emergency and non-emergency calls and determines resources.
• Dispatches units using CAD and radio communications.
• Maintains and updates electronic logs and records.

Skills

Typing 40 wpm

Public contact

Multi-tasking

Calm under pressure

Spanish desirable

Education

High school diploma

Two years clerical experience

Tools

Computer aided dispatch

Job description

The City of Bell Gardens Police Department (BGPD) is seeking a highly motivated and public service oriented individual for the position of Police Dispatcher.

The City of Bell Gardens Police Department is committed to providing the highest level of service to the community, while working with the residents and our members, demonstrating professionalism, integrity and accountability. The Bell Gardens Police Department is comprised of the Communication Center, Parking Enforcement, Patrol Unit, Records Unit, and Traffic Unit.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

Under general supervision, the Police Dispatcher receives emergency and non-emergency calls for service and dispatches appropriate personnel and equipment utilizing computer aided dispatch, telephone and/or radio communications equipment in accordance with department policies and procedures.

WORK SCHEDULE

An applicant for this position must be willing and available to work any assigned shift, including weekend and holiday hours, and may be subject to call-in's during emergency situations and staffing shortages.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Receives emergency and non-emergency telephone calls from the public for police, fire, or other emergency services; determines the nature of the call and the resources necessary to respond.
• Communicates with callers to determine the nature of the call and provide appropriate assistance; maintains composure to ensure that complete and accurate information is transmitted.
• Screens non-emergency calls for service; provides requested information or directs callers to the proper person, department or agency.
• Monitors police radio communications; maintains contact with police units to track officer status and respond to need for additional resources.
• Assists police personnel in the field quickly and accurately researching and relaying criminal history information and other requested data.
• Updates and maintains electronic records and logs of data pertaining to calls and activities.

Additional duties may include: maintaining a radio log of events occurring on a given shift in accordance with F.C.C. rules and regulations; utilizing police telecommunications systems to make necessary entries and queries regarding stolen property and wanted persons; coordinating and communicating activities between agencies jointly responding to multi-agency incidents; understanding and following complex written and oral instruction from field personnel; operating and monitoring a variety of equipment; reading and interpreting maps to locate emergencies, determining jurisdictions, and dispatching the nearest unit to expedite response time; participating in a variety of classes, training, and/or certification sessions; maintaining and troubleshooting equipment problems; skill establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with other department staff, other City employees and the public.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education, training and experience that has provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for successful job performance.

A typical way to obtain the requisite qualifications to perform the duties of this class is as follows:

• Graduation from high school or equivalent; and
• Two (2) years of experience in typing and general clerical work, including one year of experience which required considerable public contact.

DESIRABLE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

The ability to analyze situations and adopt an effective and reasonable course of action; work well under pressure and in stressful situations. College level courses in Criminal Justice, Public Administration or a related field.

POST Dispatcher Certificate highly desirable

Ability to speak Spanish highly desirable.

KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS

Computer aided dispatch preferred. Prioritizing and multi-tasking skills; excellent writing skills; analytical skills.

Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; Speak clearly and precisely; Effectively communicate and elicit information from upset and irate citizens; Type accurately at a speed of no less than 40 net words per minute; Understand and follow written and oral instructions; Learn and follow standard broadcasting procedures and rules; Learn and utilize a wide variety of codes and computer commands; Spell accurately; Operate computer aided dispatching (CAD) equipment and other office equipment quickly, accurately, and at times, concurrently; Respond to emergency and problem situations in an effective manner; Understand, explain and apply policies and procedures; Dispatch police units quickly and effectively; Work with minimum supervision; Read maps; Accomplish tasks in an organized, effective manner while working under stress; and sit for prolonged periods of time.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Possession of or ability to obtain a Class C California driver's license and a satisfactory driving record may be required for some assignments.

Ability to type 40 wpm either on a typewriter or computer keyboard. A CERTIFICATE OF TYPING PROFICIENCY MUST BE ATTACHED TO YOUR APPLICATION. Typing certificates must be a 5-minute timed typing certificate noting a net typing speed (after errors) of 40 wpm or more. This certificate must be dated no later than 6 months before the application due date and provided from an accredited school, agency, facility or institution that is deemed acceptable by the City's Human Resources Department.

SELECTION PROCESS

Following a review of all applications, the best qualified candidates will be invited for further assessment. The examination components listed below will be used to evaluate the qualifications of those who are invited. Applicants must achieve a passing score on all examination components in order to be placed on the eligible list. Eligible lists are valid for one (1) year, unless extended by the City Manager for an additional six (6) months.

The examination components will conducted in the following order:

• Application Review: Qualifying
• Written Exam: 30%
• Oral Appraisal Interview: 70%
• Polygraph, Background Investigation
• Psychological Screening & Medical Examination

Successful applicants will be invited, via email to take a written exam.

The City of Bell Gardens will accept POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery T-Score of 42 or higher taken within 12 months of application filing date.

A copy of your POST Dispatcher Test T-score must be submitted with your application.

The purpose of this recruitment is to establish an eligibility list from which current and future vacancies can be filled during the life of the eligibility list. The Police Chief will interview and select the final candidate from the eligibility list.

NOTICES

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provisions contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice. This position is subject to and dependent on the continued availability of funds and the manpower needs of the City of Bell Gardens. Under the California Government Code, Chapter 8 of Division 4 of Title 1, Section 3100 and the City of Bell Gardens Municipal Code Chapter 2.34, all City employees are designated as official disaster workers in the event of a declared disaster. In a declared disaster City employees may be required to report to work at times other than their regularly scheduled shifts and work extensive overtime during the emergency period. Selected candidate will be designated as a "Disaster Services Worker" and will be required to submit to an Oath of Office.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The City of Bell Gardens is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

If you require reasonable accommodation during the examination components due to a qualified disability, you must inform the Human Resources Division at [phone] at least 5 days in advance of testing date.