Job Title - Public Safety Dispatcher

Closing Date/Time - Open Til Filled

Salary - $23.78 - $34.72 Hourly

Job Type - Classified (Full-Time with benefits)

Department - Police Department/Dispatch Center

FLSA - Non-Exempt

THIS RECRUITMENT IS TO ESTABLISH AN ELIGIBILITY LIST FOR ANTICIPATED OPENINGS.

APPLICATION REVIEW WILL BE CONDUCTED AS NECESSARY.

Public Safety Dispatcher/Trainee Rate: $21.40/Hourly
Public Safety Dispatcher Hiring Range: $23.78-$34.72/Hourly; DOQ

HIRING INCENTIVE:
Certification Pay of $500 upon successful completion of obtaining Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD), APCO Telecommunicator Level 1, and Arizona Criminal Justice Information Systems (ACJIS).

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Performs intermediate skilled human support work performing emergency and non-emergency dispatching communication services in support of the City public services by receiving, prioritizing and dispatching appropriate personnel to service request calls, conducting quality assurance reviews, resolving problems and complaints, and maintaining files and records, and related work as apparent or assigned. Work is performed under the limited supervision of the Public Safety Dispatcher Supervisor.

The ideal candidate will possess strong customer service skills, will be trustworthy, organized, reliable and self-motivated. They must be a team player with the ability to multitask, accept direction well, and be flexible. They should be able to create and maintain a respectful and collaborative working environment as well as develop and maintain effective working relationships with supervisors and co-workers. They must also be able to work well in stressful situations while effectively communicating with the public and coworkers.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

High School diploma or GED and minimal experience in customer service in a high-paced environment, preferably in a law enforcement agency, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to pass an extensive background investigation.

Possession of or ability to obtain Arizona Criminal Justice Information Systems (ACJIS) certification of appropriate level within one (1) year of hire.

Possession of or ability to obtain Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST) certification issued by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) within one (1) year of hire.

Possession of or ability to obtain Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) certification issued by the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch (NAEMD) based on the availability of training.

National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) training based on assignment.

Must meet and maintain all training and education requirements for the position.

Valid Arizona Driver License of appropriate class.

SPECIAL NOTE:

Employees are considered "Trainee" until ACJIS Level A, APCO, Telecommunicator Level I, and Emergency Medical Dispatching (EMD) certifications are received. Requires non-standard or rotating shiftwork; subject to days, nights, weekends, holidays and call back.

Qualified candidates will be required to participate in online testing, which will consist of a writing assignment and a computerized simulation based on actual tasks associated with receiving and dispatching 911 and non-emergency calls for service. The testing process will be approximately two (2) hours. Qualified candidates will receive separate notification via email or text messaging, following the close of the recruitment, and must complete testing as instructed; no extensions of deadline will be given.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required and are subject to change as needs and job requirements change. Position assignments may vary. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Receives, prioritizes, and evaluates calls for service regarding emergency and non-emergency requests; dispatches appropriate personnel and assigns report numbers; communicates with emergency personnel via radios or phones; dispatches information and ensures accuracy of such; ensures officer/responder safety.
Maintains awareness of surrounding activities within the dispatch center and provides direction, assistance and intervention as needed or required.
Reports CAD program malfunctions to vendor attends bi-weekly meetings, and processes outstanding tickets; provides and instructs Dispatchers on updates and features of software and databases.
Performs criminal history, plate, and driver's license checks; receives and distributes teletype messages and forwards documents to other agencies; enters data into the computer system, including missing person and stolen property information; receives, downloads, processes and enters warrants into proper databases; performs audits of warrants to ensure accuracy and completeness.
Operates various communications and computer equipment such as radios and telephones and related software applications; runs ambulance statistical information and sends it to the proper Fire Department and Dispatch personnel.
Notarizes juvenile affidavits for officers with juvenile arrests and other documents as needed; completes recording requests as needed; collects, records, and processes monthly Emergency statistical information for quality control.
Develops and implements operational changes during major incidents and provides input pertaining to training needs to the Dispatch Supervisor; trains new department employees.
Operates and maintains motor vehicles or other work-related equipment requiring a valid Arizona driver's license.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
General knowledge in the criminal justice/emergency management field and first responder/emergency response; general knowledge of the principles and practices of emergency dispatch and the daily activities in an emergency dispatch call center; general knowledge of applicable telecommunication systems, maintaining accurate and detailed records, and applicable Federal, State and local laws, rules, and regulations.
Skill in the use of office equipment and technology, including Microsoft Suite applications, database entry and maintenance, GIS/mapping, computer aided dispatch databases; skill in effectively communicating ideas and concepts orally and in writing.
Ability to comprehend and maintain a working knowledge of departmental rules and regulations; ability to think and act quickly and professionally in sensitive situations; ability of to speak clear and easily understood over both the phone and police radio, ability to perform high-level multitasking, decision-making, and prioritization both independently and working within a group; ability to work a non-traditional schedule and respond to emergencies or service needs on a 24-hour basis; ability to work cooperatively with other Public Safety staff, City employees, EMS professionals, and local law enforcement officials; ability to demonstrate excellent phone etiquette skills; ability to handle confidential information; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, contractors, court representatives, elected officials, law enforcement representatives and agencies, other departments, supervisors, and the general public.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:

This work is sedentary and requires little to no exertion of force; work regularly requires standing, sitting, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms and repetitive motions and occasionally requires walking and pushing or pulling; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work has no exposure to environmental conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).

Applicants for employment opportunities should be aware of the Lake Havasu City policies concerning the use of drugs and alcohol. These policies have not been altered by the passage of Proposition 207. The use of recreational marijuana is a violation of the City's Drug Free Workplace Policy. All positions within the City are required to submit to a pre-employment drug test. A positive result for drugs tested under the policy, including recreational marijuana, may be grounds for withdrawal of an offer of employment.

The City reserves the right to consider only the most highly qualified applicants. The succeeding examination processes may be required: training and experience, testing, panel interview, employment eligibility verification (EEV) requirements, personnel evaluation profile (PEP), polygraph test, background investigation and alcohol/drug screening test. Appointment subject to successful background investigation and City paid postemployment.

medical examination after offer of employment has been made.