Dispatcher
About the Department
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the primary department charged with creating a safe and secure environment at Princeton University. DPS operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is comprised of 153 staff members. The department consists of professional University police, security officers, dispatchers, and administrators dedicated to providing best-in-class service to the community. DPS was originally recognized and awarded Law Enforcement Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) on July 25, 2015, and subsequently awarded reaccreditation status on July 25, 2018, July 25, 2022, and again on July 24, 2026. CALEA serves as the "International Gold Standard for Public Safety Agencies" and oversees a rigorous accreditation process. In addition, DPS was awarded accreditation status by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (NJLEAC) on March 14, 2019, and subsequently awarded reaccreditation status on March 10, 2022, and again on March 13, 2025. These awards are a mark of professional excellence and signify that we have earned these distinguished honors through continued compliance with CALEA/NJLEAC Standards. Throughout these processes, we established and implemented policies and practices that meet or exceed the National and State standards, to serve both the Department and the community well in the future.
The Department of Public Safety is a primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for 911 calls and serves as the crucial first contact for emergency calls, routing them to police, fire, or Emergency Medical Services (EMS), with responsibilities including call reception, information gathering, and dispatching first responders. DPS receives 4,700+ emergency and 33,000+ non-emergency calls annually. There are nearly 2 million campus-wide radio transmissions annually and 98,500+ Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) entries. The CAD system is used to efficiently manage calls, track resources, and coordinate responses by recording incident data, identifying responder locations (often via GPS), and sending alerts and details to field units, significantly speeding up dispatch and improving situational awareness and safety. The Communications Center issues 3,800 Salto door access control cards, monitors 66,000+ fire alarms, and acknowledges 150,000+ Campus/Building Access Control System (CACS) door alarms annually. Dispatchers serve as the first point of contact for community members who are seeking assistance with their emergency, non-emergency, and service request calls.
Responsibilities
- Receive calls, monitor several radio frequencies, and monitor intrusion and fire alarms in a fast, courteous, accurate, and efficient manner.
- Establish the nature and location of call(s), determine priority, and dispatch the appropriate patrol unit, university support team and/or emergency services as necessary.
- Maintain contact with all units in service by accurately tracking, monitoring, and documenting officer activities during their shift.
- Operate Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) console equipped with multiple computer terminals, including 911 call handling, geographic information system (GIS) mapping, camera systems and a radio console with multiple radio channels to dispatch public safety.
- Be familiar with operations and call transfer protocols of the two Mercer County Emergency Services Support Agencies, both Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Dispatch and the County Emergency Services Support Agencies of the contiguous County's Emergency Service Dispatch, Middlesex County.
- Provide assistance to walk-up customers and provide general University information about the campus.
- Serve as a service-oriented team player committed to cultivating relationships with and assisting members of the Princeton University community.
Work Hours
- The Department of Public Safety is a 24/7, 365-day operation.
- Must be able to work on all shifts (standard work week is 40 hours, standard shifts are 8, 10, or 12 hours), during various hours, including weekends and holidays.
- Overtime is mandatory.
Qualifications
- High School diploma or equivalent.
- Excellent customer service skills.
- Ability to work on all shifts (standard work week is 40 hours, standard shifts are 8, 10, or 12 hours), during various hours, including weekends and holidays. Overtime is mandatory.
- Hold a current Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) certificate or be able to obtain one during the probationary period (first 12 months).
- Hold a current Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) card or be able to obtain one within three months from the date of hire.
- Hold an Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) or National Emergency Communications Institute (NECI) Emergency Communications Officer certification or be able to obtain one during the probationary period (first 12 months).
- Able to remain seated for long periods of time at a console.
- Understand telephone conversations over a telephone or radio.
- Speak English clearly and enunciate words over a telephone or radio during stressful, emergency situations.
- Ability to: work, organize and operate with a high level of efficiency under pressure and extreme stress; effectively handle multiple, differing tasks simultaneously; operate multiple pieces of technology and software applications; make critical decisions that affect campus wide response and reaction; manage down time with self-initiated training, communications refreshers and at time limited supervision.
Preferred Qualifications
- Three years of dispatching in a medium-volume Public Safety Dispatch service center.
- Knowledge of and operations of a conventional radio system.
- Knowledge and ability to operate Digital Trunking Radio System.
- Associate or bachelor's degree.
Pay
- Per the SPFPA contract, the salary is $56,222.40/annual = $27.03/hourly rate.
Additional Information
- This is a unionized position: International Union, Security, Police and Fire Professional of America (SPFPA).
- Per the SPFPA contract, this position has a 12-month probationary period.
- All positions within the Department of Public Safety are subject to completion of a comprehensive background screening process. This includes both a University Human Resources background check and a fingerprint-based criminal history background check conducted by the Department of Public Safety. Successful completion of both processes is required as a condition of employment.