Police Dispatcher Trainee

Position Summary

To receive, evaluate, and transmit emergency and routine voice radio messages via telephone, teletype and automatic alarm; to dispatch required equipment and personnel in accordance with standard policies and procedures; to maintain records; and to perform related work as required.

This is the entry‑level class in the Police Dispatcher series. It is distinguished from the journey‑level class by the performance of the more routine tasks and duties assigned to positions within this series. Employees at this level are not expected to perform with the same independence of direction and judgment on matters allocated to the journey level. Since this class is typically used as a training class, employees may have only limited or no directly related work experience.

Employees work under immediate supervision while learning job tasks.

Newly‑hired employees in this position may receive up to $5,000 relocation allowance for expenses incurred in relocating the employee and their immediate family to San Diego County. Additionally, this position is eligible for the Employee Referral Program. Eligible employees that make a successful referral will receive either 16 hours of leave or a referral payment of up to $3,000.

Functions may include, but are not limited to, the following: 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; stay on the line with victim in emergency as appropriate and create a record of the information; analyze requests for police service, determine priority ranking 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; refer difficult or extremely serious calls to supervisor; listen to each radio transmission from police personnel in the field, acknowledge and comply with request for action or information; keep superiors informed as to 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 Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) 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 or CAD messages; 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 resource status and activity log 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; and perform other duties related to this position.

Any combination of education and/or experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be one year of clerical, administrative, public information or emergency service including radio‑telephone communications work and training equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade. Work experience as a public safety dispatcher is highly desirable.

Candidates who meet minimum qualifications for this position will be invited to participate in a Criti Call performance aptitude test.

A valid typing certificate must be attached to your application at the time of…