Police Dispatcher

Under general and/or immediate supervision, performs a variety of duties involved in answering 9-1-1 emergency and non-emergency calls; analyze, prioritize, and enter calls for service via a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system; dispatch emergency personnel via multi-frequency radio system, telephone, or other communications equipment; record and monitor activities of field and communications personnel; receive incoming calls for police and emergency assistance and dispatch necessary units;

perform a variety of general support duties related to dispatch activities; and related work as assigned on an assigned shift for the Police Department.

POSITION SNAPSHOT:The Fontana Police Dispatcher is a non-uniformed position. A typical shift is 12-hours which predominantly takes place within the Dispatch Center of the Police Department. You will be a member of a productive team that operates in a fast-paced environment while answering calls from the public and communicating with department personnel in the field via phone, computer, or radio. This communication includes but is not limited to: call taking, working secondary and primary radio channels, collecting and/or passing information to partner jurisdictions, and accurate data-entry.

The goal of a Dispatcher is to serve the community through respectful, empathetic communication with a focus on problem solving and maintaining professionalism.

The incumbent must have the ability to:

• Receive emergency and non-emergency calls, complaints, and inquiries from the public. Evaluate and analyze information to determine jurisdiction, necessity, and response needed.
• Determine the nature and location of emergency and non-emergency calls for service, including 9-1-1 calls, and prioritize response.
• Dispatch emergency and non-emergency units as necessary and in accordance with established procedures. Use appropriate terminology and radio codes relaying to police personnel in the field via radio and mobile data computer terminals.
• Listen and comprehend radio transmissions from emergency personnel in the field; acknowledge, document, and comply with requests for action or information.
• Coordinate emergency calls and relay information and assistance requests involving other public safety agencies.
• Maintain contact with all units on assignment; maintain status and location of police field units, checking periodically to verify location, activity, and status, supplying back-up personnel and taking other appropriate steps to provide for the safety of field personnel.
• Organize and coordinate activities of field units.
• Place telephone calls to other safety agencies, City departments, City emergency crews, tow companies, ambulance services, coroner, telephone and utility companies, and others to relay information or request services, maintaining detailed record of the time and nature of each call.
• Operate CAD equipment, enhanced 9-1-1 telephone system equipment, multi-frequency radio equipment, Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD), and other relative office equipment and systems.
• Perform a variety of record keeping, filing, indexing, and other general clerical work.
• Monitor radio channels for service requests from other jurisdictions and emergency radio traffic that may affect the City’s operations.
• Monitor security cameras and license plate readers to provide real-time information to field units.
• Attend patrol briefings as assigned.
• Testify in court as needed.
• Enter, update, and retrieve information on wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, stolen property/vehicles, and other information from computer and teletype networks including but not limited to California Law Enforcement Teletype System (CLETS), Department of Justice (DOJ), National Law Enforcement Teletype System (NLETS)/National Crime Information Center (NCIC), etc.
• Learn departmental policies and procedures for service requests.
• Read maps, memorize streets and major hundred blocks and reasonably apply this knowledge to service requests, field unit beat assignments, and coordination of response.
• Learn police codes, practices, and methods.
• Work under pressure, exercise good judgment, and make sound…