Emergency Communications Dispatcher - Trainee

About the role

The Emergency Communications Dispatcher Trainee receives on-the-job training in basic 9-1-1 call answering and radio dispatching methods and techniques. This classification is part of a flexible series.

Responsibilities

• Learns to dispatch police and fire personnel and equipment on both routine and emergency calls utilizing the computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system, radio dispatching consoles, and related communications equipment;
• Learns to monitor and maintain the status of assigned public safety personnel and public safety frequencies and equipment;
• Learns to analyze situations accurately and take effective action in accordance with policies and procedures to help assure officer and citizen safety;
• Receives 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls for service; utilizes interrogation techniques/protocols to evaluate what type of help is needed;
• Enters information by typing while having a live conversation into a CAD system;
• Determines scene and responder safety; transfers calls to the proper emergency service provider, or provides information to the field units and/or public;
• Manages callers who may be in distress and highly emotional;
• Inquires, interprets, verifies, receives, and disseminates information from law enforcement computer networks relating to wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, and related matters;
• Analyzes situations accurately and takes effective action to help assure officer and public safety;
• Utilizes map and GIS software programs to identify the location of an incident and monitor units;
• Records the nature and source of all incoming and outgoing phone and radio messages, as required;
• Relays critical information as quickly as possible;
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker as required.

Requirements

• Must be able to pass a thorough law enforcement background investigation;
• Must be able to pass the POST-certified Public Safety Dispatchers’ Basic Course within one year of appointment;
• Must be able to satisfactorily complete the Continuing Professional Training (CPT) requirement of twenty-four (24) or more hours of POST qualifying training during every two-year CPT cycle.

Qualifications

• Education: Possession of a high school diploma or equivalent;
• Experience: One (1) year of experience involving substantial public contact.

Skills

• Communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively;
• Empathize with members of the public in sensitive and/or distressful situations;
• Document information in English in a clear, organized, concise, and understandable manner;
• Accurately type a keyboard terminal minimum of 30 wpm (net on a computer).

Benefits

• The County of Monterey offers an excellent benefits package.

Pay

Pay is commensurate with experience.

Schedule

Work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during times of disaster and/or emergency; travel out of County to attend meetings.

Notes

• To view the complete classification description, please visit the County of Monterey website: Emergency Communications Dispatcher I
• Completion of the following supplemental questions is REQUIRED and is an integral part of the evaluation process.