Police Dispatcher (multiple opportunities)

About This Opportunity

Reporting to the Communications Supervisor, the Police Dispatcher is responsible for performing specialized and varied work in the Police Department Communications Center to include receiving and transmitting law enforcement and related public safety information. This position is responsible for answering department telephones, including emergency 911 telephone calls, determining the nature of the caller's needs and dispatching police mobile units, or referring the call to the appropriate resource; prioritizing and routing emergency calls to fire, police and emergency medical services. There is often a high volume of calls, many of which involve accidents or crimes in progress. This position also supports some non-public safety functions of the university in a similar, though less emergent, capacity.

Key Responsibilities

• Call Taking and Processing – 40%: Answer and process emergency and non-emergency calls for service; interviewing callers to determine call natures, supporting information, and safety elements; connecting callers with alternate departments and resources when appropriate; documenting call information in a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) System. Balances multiple incoming calls for service in a trunked phone system, in addition to intakes via text-to-911 and public safety mobile application (SafeZone).
• Police Dispatching and Radio Communications – 40%: Dispatch calls for service to police personnel and alternative response resources using approved terminology and formatting; communicate criminal justice information and safety information in a clear and concise manner; maintain situational awareness of field unit operations over multiple radio channels and conduct status checks; Radio traffic controller for up to four channels while monitoring up to three additional channels.
• Information Management, Records, and Administrative Work – 15%: Maintaining accurate event records; making NCIC/WACIC record entries as well as relevant modifications, queries, and confirmations; conducting notifications as requested; special projects and other duties as assigned.
• Training and Professional Development – 5%: Participates in training exercises and departmental activities to improve operations; Completes training required for departmental, state, and federal requirements, meeting or exceeding certification, accreditation, and legal requirements; Refresher trainings; and trainings for new technologies and processes.

The above are listed as an estimation—frequency, duration, and additional duties will vary as the community safety needs of the day demand. This position performs essential services and will be required to work as scheduled during holidays, weekends, and periods of suspended campus operations.

Required Qualifications

• High school graduation or equivalent
• Two years of experience to include dispatching responsibilities and/or completion of an accredited dispatcher program
• Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong customer service skills
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communications skills to include demonstrated ability to clearly and concisely speak English and understand English
• Word processing/computer experience
• Accurate keyboarding skills
• Demonstrated ability to accurately hear and simultaneously document verbal information
• Proven ability to exhibit professional patience and calm control while interviewing callers who may be verbally abusive, emotionally upset, uncooperative, or frightened, or for whom English may not be their first language
• Ability to work in a high-pressured, high security environment
• Ability to take direction, working both independently and as part of a team
• Ability to work in a confined area, primarily seated in an office setting for extended periods of time with no outside visibility
• Must believe in teamwork and have strong commitment to excellence and continued improvement
• Police dispatch experience
• Experience with emergency 911 calls
• CAD/RMS experience
• Current Washington State Public Safety Telecommunicator Certification, ACCESS certifications, or out of state POST or PST certification or coursework
• Fluency in other languages (such as Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Russian)

Working Conditions

• Employees must be willing to work any shift or workweek, including mandatory overtime and holidays, as assigned.
• Work is performed primarily seated in an office setting with no outside visibility.
• All final applicants will be required to complete a minimum of two hours observation in the University of Washington Communication Center. This should be scheduled before taking the polygraph examination or psychological evaluation.
• No felony convictions and no pattern of misdemeanor convictions that could compromise access to confidential records.
• Employment is contingent upon successful completion of comprehensive background investigation, polygraph, and psychological examinations.
• This position is located at UW Police Department in a state-of-the-art building on 15th Ave NE. Must be comfortable working in a police station environment.

Pay

Minimum: $63,156.00 annual / Maximum: $84,924.00 annual

Benefits

For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/

Schedule

Alternate Work Shift. This is a regular position, 100.00% FTE. Union/Bargaining Unit: SEIU Local 925 Nonsupervisory.

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