Police Communications Trainee

About the role

This trainee classification works under close supervision participating in training work leading to progressively responsible tasks in the Police Communications Bureau.

Responsibilities

• Receives, identifies and accurately evaluates emergency and routine calls for police services, routes 911 calls for Fire and EMS services, refers calls to other agencies and makes required notifications as appropriate.
• Maintains the status of all police personnel and units as to location and availability.
• Determines appropriate personnel and equipment to be dispatched using voice radio and computer aided dispatch system.
• Relays, follows, repeats and remembers complex oral and written instructions, information and directions.
• Uses established policies & procedures, independent judgment, common sense and reason to make rapid and accurate decisions to achieve an effective initial or alternate course of action in dispatching police resources.
• Performs multiple, routine and complex dispatch tasks simultaneously.
• Responds calmly and effectively in emergency and stress situations.
• Develops speed and accuracy in performing job duties & responsibilities, including operating radio consoles, computer terminals and associated communications equipment, performing minor maintenance as required.
• Effectively communicates and coordinates in a teamwork environment with co-workers, other agencies, departments and the public, exercising strong customer service and group dynamic skills.
• Monitors multiple police, fire and emergency radio frequencies.
• Initiates, receives and interprets information from various law enforcement computerized database systems.
• Maintains awareness of dispatch center activity and effectively anticipates and plans for probable tasks which will require immediate action.
• Works with geography/street files and reads maps, manuals, notebooks, memorandums, legal resources, policies & procedures and posted information.
• Monitors facility security and various alarm systems.
• Prepares logs, reports, forms and updates information and files in a timely manner.
• Studies, reviews, and trains in communications and police department operations to develop a complete and accurate concept and understanding of the nature of police work.
• Assumes responsibility for ensuring the duties of this position are performed in a safe, efficient manner.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or as the situation requires.

Requirements

• An equivalent combination of experience and education sufficient to perform the essential job functions and provide the required knowledge and abilities.
• Some general clerical experience involving public contact is desirable.
• Graduation from high school or attainment of GED or CHSPE certificate.
• A valid California Class C driver's license.
• Bilingual English/Spanish and/or English/Armenian.
• Prior experience in two way radio operation in a public safety emergency communications dispatch system.

Qualifications

• Resourcefulness and organization, initiative and self motivation.
• Ability To Provide exceptional customer service to all employees and vendors.
• Accept close supervision, criticism and/or discipline and work within an established chain of command organizational structure.
• Accurately assess problems and understand needs & situations.
• Acquire knowledge of communications rules, regulations, theory, operations, equipment, principles & capabilities, limitations & backup system alternatives.
• Act in a decisive manner, using good judgment, common sense & reason.
• Anticipate needs and evaluate alternatives and contingencies.
• Control conversations, quickly gathering pertinent and relevant information.
• Deal tactfully and courteously with the public.
• Develop knowledge of cooperating agency procedures and resources - mutual aid.
• Exercise tact & diplomacy, striving to promote a positive & cooperative atmosphere.
• Hear multiple normal level conversations simultaneously, distinguishing between voices and sources to ascertain relevant information quickly and accurately.
• Learn new information and initiate improvements in technical and procedural areas.
• Learn police codes, rules, policies & procedures quickly and to interpret them correctly.
• Learn police equipment and resource capabilities and develop strategy for various types of police responses and emergencies.
• Maintain emotional stability, patience, loyalty and commitment to the organization.
• Quickly and accurately follow written and oral instructions.
• Rapidly & accurately operate complex computerized & mechanical equipment.
• React quickly, efficiently and calmly in emergencies & stressful situations.
• Read and discern visual images on a variety of media including multiple computer system's screens.
• Read and understand street maps, learn and retain a workable knowledge of cities, roadways, landmarks, geography of the City and surrounding jurisdictions.
• Read, write legibly, spell, comprehend & communicate effectively in English.
• Speak clearly, distinctly and correctly with good modulation.
• Take initiative and exercise dependability, maturity and self-confidence.
• Take notes, organize information & thoughts and develop notebooks, projects, records and reports.
• Touch type at least 30 words per minute while conversing on telephone and/or radio.
• Understand, retain and repeat simple and complex oral and written instructions.
• Use work time properly and productively, producing high quality, accurate work.
• Work in confined quarters for extended periods of time.

Skills

• Resourcefulness and organization.
• Initiative and self motivation.
• Exceptional customer service.
• Close supervision, criticism and/or discipline.
• Problem assessment and understanding.
• Knowledge of communications rules, regulations, theory, operations, equipment, principles & capabilities.
• Decisiveness and good judgment.
• Need anticipation and contingency evaluation.
• Conversation control and information gathering.
• Tact and diplomacy.
• Multiple conversation hearing and information discernment.
• New information acquisition and procedural improvements.
• Police codes, rules, policies & procedures.
• Police equipment and resource capabilities.
• Emergency response strategies.
• Emotional stability, patience, loyalty and commitment.
• Written and oral instruction following.
• Complex equipment operation.
• Emergency and stressful situation reaction.
• Visual image reading and discernment.
• Street map and geographical knowledge.
• Reading, writing, spelling, comprehension and communication.
• Speech clarity, distinctness and correctness.
• Note taking, information organization and report development.
• Typing speed and accuracy.
• Simple and complex oral and written instruction retention and repetition.
• Work time management and quality production.
• Confined space work.

Benefits

Not specified.

Pay

Not specified.

Schedule

Rotating shifts, including nights, weekends and holidays.

Benefits

The City of Glendale offers a comprehensive benefit package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, and long-term disability insurance. The above listed benefits apply to full-time, salaried positions only.