Emergency Dispatcher 1

The University Police Department provides safety services for the Anchorage campus and residential halls. Made up of sworn officers, a chief, sergeants, dispatchers, non-sworn security, civilian records professionals, and student workers, we show up every day to help students accomplish their educational goals in peace and safety. Emergency dispatchers gather, correlate, prioritize and analyze all pertinent information regarding emergency and non-emergency situations, in order to establish proper UPD response/procedure and requirements.

They solve complex problems daily using established guidelines and procedures in order to provide correct safety, security and services for the general public and police officers.

Dispatchers often make technical decisions without referral to higher supervision due to the immediacy of the situations at hand- for instance, when to make a call out (home phone) to supervisors, the Chief, Lieutenants, Dean of Students, Chancellors' personnel and the CRT group. Decide whether a Building Manager needs to be contacted, etc.

Due to the increasing domestic, terrorism and more volatile situations that have risen world-wide, dispatchers are continuously taught/updated on how to handle individual situations. For example: bomb threats, terroristic threats, sexual assaults, etc. Dispatch must be able to recognize any/all threats/situations (telephonically) involving the UAA community and surrounding areas and know the proper response, responders and contacts for each situation.

The UAA community has identified four core competencies at the heart of quality se qualities are core to everything we do:

• Effective Communication
  - The knowledge and skills necessary to engage in effective communication in diverse contexts and formats, including public speaking.
• Creative and critical thinking
  - The knowledge and skills necessary for the critical exploration of issues, ideas, artifacts, and events in order to creatively design, evaluate, and implement a strategy to answer complex questions or achieve a desired goal.
• Intercultural Fluency
  - The knowledge and skills necessary to promote effective and appropriate interaction in a variety of cultural contexts, particularly in terms of the diverse populations of Alaska.
• Personal, Professional, and Community Responsibility
  - The knowledge and skills necessary to promote personal flourishing, professional excellence, and community engagement.

Work is performed under supervision while a trainee. Monitor and respond to phone lines and radio traffic for personnel (e.g. police, parking services, shuttle bus driver, facilities services personnel, and sports center personnel). Gather information and evaluate situations to determine course of action and to dispatch appropriate resources. Utilize state and federal specialized computer systems to access information on basic person information, vehicle information, criminal history and case involvement.

Monitor, coordinate and dispatch or contact appropriate responders to incidents. Process police reports, maintain call logs, and enter data into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. Dispatch after hours calls for facilities services. Issue Emergency notifications (RAVE) Requires appropriate security clearance and certifications or the ability to obtain security clearance within 30 days of hire and certifications after training period.

No experience necessary. Emergency services dispatching experiencing is preferred.

Ability to receive, interpret, respond to and process information and radio logs, completely and accurately. Ability to evaluate and prioritize all information data in regular and emergency situations and make well-informed analytical and rational decisions regarding the safety and security of: the general public, department personnel, UAA staff, faculty, students and UAA property. Ability to make independent decisions and perform more than one job task simultaneously.

Work is performed under intermittent supervision.

Excellent problem solving, mental recall and written and oral communication skills. Ability to maintain accurate, legible and coherent dispatch logs. Ability to remain calm and properly dispatch and coordinate responses. Knowledge of dispatch regulations/manual and procedures. Ability to give directions and addresses telephonically to student, faculty, staff and other pertinent agencies. Ability to receive and process confidential information for dissemination.

Ability to use multi-line telephone systems using proper public and telephone etiquette related to handling police and emergency situations and UAA services. Knowledge of police radio procedures including knowledge of Alpha Codes and Ten Codes (officer response).

Ability to work with and learn UAA’s CCTV system.

Demonstrated ability to use a computer as well as Law Enforcement World Wide Communications Networks. Must be able to type accurately at 35 words per minute. General office skills.

Knowledge of APSIN, National Crime Information Center…