Police Dispatcher; Lateral

the city of westminster now offers a one-time sign-on bonus of $10,000, for qualified lateral police dispatchers to join our team. This bonus will be paid out at $5,000 upon hire and $5,000 upon completion of probation.

• possess a post communications certificate.
• successfully completed a probationary period within a california public safety agency or equivalent or have one full year of dispatcher experience within the last four years.

under general supervision, receives police and emergency calls, and dispatches police units following prescribed procedures; answers non-emergency calls for public safety and other city departments; performs a variety of general administrative support duties including record keeping, typing, and filing; and performs related work as required.

receives general supervision from communications supervisor. Exercises no supervision of staff.

this is a single-level classification that performs the full range of receiving and dispatching emergency calls for the police department. Responsibilities are centered on extensive contact with the public over the telephone, in both emergency and non-emergency situations to receive, transmit, and provide factual information, forms, and reports. All activities must be performed within specified legal guidelines. Incumbents are expected to work independently and exercise judgment and initiative.

Positions at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit. This class is distinguished from the communications supervisor in that the latter is the full supervisory-level class in the series responsible for organizing, assigning, supervising, and reviewing the work of staff involved in police dispatch services.

management reserves the rights to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• receives and evaluates police and emergency calls, and related business calls for the city during an assigned portion of the 24-hours-per-day/7-days-per-week police department operations; provides information and/or transfers calls to the appropriate department, agency, or response organization; takes messages for police department personnel.
• dispatches public safety emergency units in accordance with established procedures and policies using a computerized dispatch system, including determining priority of emergency and contacting and sending appropriate response unit.
• maintains contact with field units, including accounting for location and status of units and maintaining records of field calls; sends back-up units, as necessary, ensuring the safety of field units.
• operates computer, telephone, and radio console and telecommunication equipment simultaneously while performing dispatching activities; tests and inspects equipment as assigned.
• logs call data in a written or automated format; monitors calls after initial dispatch to provide additional coordination, support, or information.
• enters, updates, and retrieves a variety of records from teletype database, including stolen vehicles and property, vehicle registration information, guns and property, and warranted or missing persons.
• accesses federal, state, and local law enforcement information databases to obtain information regarding outstanding warrants, criminal history, records information, and vehicle data; relays such information to sworn staff.
• acts as a liaison to the public and representatives of other agencies for the department; provides initial non-emergency contact with the public and representatives of other agencies for the requesting of police records or related services; determines the nature of the contact; provides factual information regarding services, policies, and procedures, which requires knowledge of legal guidelines, departmental policies and procedures, and the use of tact and…