Public Safety Dispatcher

CITY OF MORGAN HILL

Public Safety Dispatcher (Lateral/Trainee)

$8,415.20 - $10,740.16 Monthly

$ - $ Annually

Choose Morgan Hill:
The City of Morgan Hill is the best community for people to live, work, visit, and operate their businesses.

The City currently accepting applications for both Lateral and Trainee candidates. The position may be filled at either level.

Under direct supervision of the Public Safety Dispatcher Supervisor, staffs the police communications center and Public Safety Answering Point and participates in the communication activities of the Support Services Division of the Police Department.

This is a journey level civilian law enforcement classification. Principal duties of this class include receives and dispatches local emergency calls for service, refer and coordinate response to emergency calls with other appropriate emergency service agencies, and provide dispatching support to other city departments during non-business hours. In addition, this classification performs other technical duties including taking police reports over the phone, maintaining certain automated police information systems, and may occasionally be required to assist officers in processing prisoners.

A significant degree of technical skill and independent judgment is required of incumbents to develop, maintain, and successfully perform in a community oriented, problem solving approach to policing.

The specific technical nature of law enforcement procedures, plus the necessity to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to appointment, distinguishes this class from the general office classes.

• Receives emergency calls from the public requesting police, fire, medical or other emergencies.
• Dispatches police, fire, ambulance or other appropriate assistance in accordance with established procedures.
• Monitors status of officers in the field and other law enforcement and emergency service agencies.
• Relays information retrieved from information sources to officers in the field
• Answers non-emergency calls for service, takes required police reports over the phone, and provides appropriate information or contacts the appropriate agency.
• Enters and retrieves data from automated law enforcement information systems.
• Maintains logs and files of calls and work performed.
• Maintains accurate records.
• Monitor surveillance cameras and the audio system in the holding facility.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Graduation from high school or the equivalent.
• Prior 911 dispatching experience not required. Any prior work experience or volunteer experience with a public safety agency is helpful.

• Results of the Criti Call Exam successfully completed within the last 12 months
• Results of the P.O.S.T. Entry Level Dispatcher Test Battery exam successfully completed within the last 12 months
• Must posses a typing certificate (minimum net 40 words per minute). (Final candidates may be tested)
• Possess or successfully obtain a Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Basic Dispatch Certificate within one year of date of hire.

• Graduation from high school or the equivalent.
• One year experience dispatching, preferably in the public safety setting. Two years experience is highly desirable.

• Must posses a typing certificate (minimum net 40 words per minute). (Final candidates may be tested)
• Possess or successfully obtain a Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Basic Dispatch Certificate within one year of date of hire.

• Must be able to meet state standards for accessing criminal history information as determined by a comprehensive background and psychological examination.
• Must be willing to work various hours, rotating shifts, weekends and holidays and be available for call-back.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

• Standard communications principles and…