Police Dispatcher​/Safety Communications Operator, UMKC Police Department

Job Description

UMKC Police Department provides a safe, secure, and service-focused environment for all members of the university community. Safety Communications Operators are the first point of contact for emergency and non-emergency assistance, serving as a vital communications hub for police and public safety operations. In this role, you will manage critical information flow, support officer safety, and ensure timely, accurate coordination of responses across campus.

This position demands professionalism, composure, and strong decision-making in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment.

• Answer and manage multi-line phone systems, including 911, emergency, and administrative lines and transfer calls to appropriate personnel or agencies as needed.
• Gather accurate information from callers, assess urgency, and prioritize requests for service.
• Serve as the university's after-hours emergency switchboard and route urgent notifications appropriately.

• Operate multi-channel police radio systems to dispatch officers, security personnel, and support units.
• Track officer status, movements, and safety through continuous monitoring and documentation.
• Relay real-time updates, safety alerts, and critical information to field personnel with clarity and precision.

• Monitor alarms, panic systems, access alerts, and campus camera feeds.
• Identify suspicious, unsafe, or criminal activity and coordinate immediate response from available units.
• Document building alarms and work with Facilities or after-hours maintenance when required.

• Maintain accurate, real-time CAD (Computer-Aided Dispatch) logs for all police and security activity.
• Use public-safety systems including CAD, MULES, and Rave Guardian to enter, retrieve, and verify data.
• Support incident reporting and investigative needs through detailed and consistent documentation.

• Serve as the first point of contact for walk-in individuals requesting assistance, information, or directions.
• Provide professional, courteous customer service to students, faculty, staff, and visitors.
• Assist with administrative tasks such as key control inquiries and general departmental communication.

• May assist in training new Communications Operators.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support the mission of the UMKC Police Department.

• 8-hour shifts across three rotating schedules:
  Days (7am-3pm), Evenings (3pm-11pm), and Midnights (11pm-7am).
• Overtime may be available/required for shift coverage, special events, and/or campus emergencies as needed.

• As an essential university employee, may be required to work during weekends, university holidays, campus closures, severe weather events, and other emergency situations as operational needs dictate.

• A high school diploma and 2 years of experience from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities can be acquired is necessary.

• Two or more years of administrative, dispatch, or communications experience.
• Prior public-safety, 911, or law-enforcement communications background.
• Proficiency with computers, Microsoft Office, Outlook, and accurate typing.
• Ability to work varying shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

The anticipated hiring range for this position has been established as up to $18.00 per hour. This position is eligible for a $1.00 shift differential for eligible hours. This position is eligible for a $1,500 hiring incentive. Salary is determined by a variety of factors, including but not…