Police Dispatcher (Lateral)

About the role

This position is for current (lateral) dispatchers who work in a public safety communications center. A public safety communications center refers to any local, state or federal agency involved in the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety of the general public.

Essential Functions

• Receive service requests by telephone on 911 emergency and business lines.
• Obtain information on the nature of the request/emergency, the location, and telephone number of caller, name of caller and other pertinent information.
• Remain on the line with victim in emergency, as appropriate and create a record of the information.
• Analyze requests for police service, determine priority ranking of each request and the kind and level of service to be dispatched in initial response.
• Determine available units to dispatch; dispatch personnel and equipment according to standard operational procedures, instructions from a superior or by individual judgment as required.
• Refers difficult or extremely serious calls to supervisor.
• Listen to each radio transmission from police personnel in the field, acknowledges and complies with request for action or information.
• Keep superiors informed of emergency situations and general activities.
• Place telephone calls to other police jurisdictions, City departments, City emergency crews, vehicle tow companies, ambulance services, coroner, relatives of victims, telephone and utility companies, alarm company, traffic signal maintenance and other services concerning an emergency.
• Maintain detailed records of the time and nature of each call.
• Operate computer aided dispatch system equipment, TDD and other office equipment.
• Operate teletype and computer terminal to check for registered owners of vehicles and other information.
• Refer to maps and reference materials to secure information needed by personnel in the field and for the dispatch function.
• Take reports and relay messages by radio or telephone.
• Maintain a log of radio calls received and transmitted.
• Type, issue case numbers, log departmental activities and perform routine clerical work.
• Assist in monitoring activity in jail cells via a closed circuit TV system.
• Maintain law enforcement resources status and activity file in the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) computer.
• May instruct other personnel in the techniques and use of communications equipment.
• May perform minor or routine upkeep and maintenance of equipment.
• Perform other duties related to this position.

Minimum Qualifications

• Two years of responsible clerical, administrative, public information or emergency service including radio-telephone communications work (work experience in public safety field is highly desirable).
• Successful completion as a Police Dispatcher Trainee with the City of Chula Vista and training equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.
• A valid typing certificate MUST be attached to your application at the time of submission. Must reflect the ability to type at a rate of 40 net words per minute or higher and with 5 errors or less.
• The typing certificate must be issued within one year prior to our receipt of your application.
• Knowledge of: basic terminology used in radio and telephone communications; operation of communication equipment, including telephone, radio, paging, computer and related systems; geographic features and boundaries of the Chula Vista area; English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; computerized data entry and retrieval systems used in dispatch communication and operations.
• Ability to: learn City dispatch codes, policies and procedures; memorize codes, names, locations and other detailed information; attend to multiple activities and sources of input simultaneously during stressful situations; obtain complete and accurate information from individuals who during emergency situations may be emotionally distraught, angry or difficult to understand; remain calm and make rapid and sound independent judgments in stressful emergency situations; effectively operate the computer-aided dispatch system, display terminals, radio dispatching consoles, and associated equipment; read and interpret street maps; analyze and evaluate emergency situations as required to prioritize calls and to anticipate/determine the needs of responding personnel; make sound decisions using available information; read and interpret rules, regulations, policies, and procedures; while handling critical incident calls, accomplish tasks in a controlled, effective manner; work days, evenings, and nights, rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays as needed; type at a speed of at least 40 NWPM; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; and work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.