Public Safety Dispatcher I / II

Salary : $71,323.20 - $95,368.00 Annually

Location : Suisun City, CA

Job Type : Full-Time

Job Number : 202400022

Department : Police Department

Division : Drug Testing, Medical, Poly, Psych, Background

Opening Date : 04 / 29 / 2025

Closing Date : Continuous

Description

All applicants who meet the minimum requirements will be issued a remote typing test by the City. Applicants will have a total of 7 days to complete the test. A successful completion of at least 40 words per minute (WPM) is required to move on to the next step in the recruitment process.

Summary

Under supervision (Public Safety Dispatcher I) or general supervision (Public Safety Dispatcher II) performs a variety of duties involved in receiving, evaluating, prioritizing, and relaying calls for emergency and non-emergency public safety assistance; dispatches appropriate units and coordinates response of emergency personnel; maintains, processes, and distributes police records; operates a variety of telecommunications equipment including radio, telephone, and CAD systems; and performs a wide variety of specialized clerical duties involved in the preparation, maintenance, and release of materials related to law enforcement activities.

Distinguishing characteristics

Public Safety Dispatcher I - This is the entry level class in the Public Safety Dispatcher series, which is typically used as a training class. Positions at this level are not expected to function with the same amount of program knowledge or skill level as positions allocated to the Public Safety Dispatcher II level and initially exercise less independent discretion and judgment in matters related to work procedures and methods. While in training, work is usually supervised while in progress and fits an established structure or pattern. After initial training period, only occasional instruction or assistance is provided as new or unusual situations arise, with exceptions or changes in procedures explained in detail as they arise. Advancement to the "II" level is based on demonstrated proficiency in performing the full range of assigned duties, the completion of the minimum experience and education requirements for the "II" level, and is at the discretion of higher level supervisory or management staff.

Public Safety Dispatcher II - This is the full journey level class in the Public Safety Dispatcher series performing the full range of dispatcher duties. Positions at this level are distinguished from the Public Safety Dispatcher I level by independent performance of the range of duties, applying well developed program area knowledge, training new employees, and implementing new procedures. Positions at this level are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit. Work is normally reviewed only on completion and for overall results. Positions in this class series are flexibly staffed and positions at the Public Safety Dispatcher II level are normally filled by advancement from the Public Safety Dispatcher I level.

Examples of Duties

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and / or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Receives, classifies, and prioritizes all incoming calls to the dispatch center including 911 calls and business line calls received from citizens requesting service or information; operates a variety of public safety communications equipment including 911 emergency telephone equipment, computer aided dispatch systems, and multi-channel radio systems; dispatches police and fire units and personnel.
• Performs a variety of duties involved in police records operations including disseminating, maintaining confidentiality, evaluating, copying, and filing police records and reports; processes and distributes arrest reports to the District Attorney, juvenile probation offices, and courts in a timely manner; ensures that information is released in accordance with related laws and Police Department policies.
• Evaluates response necessary as dictated by a given request for service; determines nature, location, and priority of calls; operates computer aided dispatch system to create calls for service within response criteria guidelines; assigns and dispatches appropriate police, fire, or other emergency vehicles, equipment, and personnel in accordance with policies and procedures; transfers calls to other appropriate agency in accordance with established procedures; obtains and dispatches other support services as necessary.
• Maintains contacts with all units on assignment through computer aided dispatch; maintain status and location of police field units; maintains computer records of traffic stops and other officer initiated activity.
• Performs a wide variety of specialized clerical duties involved in the preparation, maintenance, and release of materials related to law enforcement activities including to organize, process, maintain, update, and route a variety of departmental reports, records, and files; operates and maintains the departmental centralized record keeping systems; makes inquiries; enters reports; updates individual files; updates codes.
• Retrieves and monitors information from local agency radio traffic, and local, state, and national computer networks regarding wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, stolen vehicles, restraining orders, criminal histories, parolees, and other related information; relays information to officers in the field.
• Operates computer terminals and teletype machine to enter, modify, and retrieve data such as stolen and recovered property, towed and stolen vehicles, missing and unidentified persons, citations, field interviews, driver license and vehicle registration information, and warrants on wanted persons; composes and transmits messages to other agencies.
• Performs a variety of general and specialized clerical duties in support of the department; compiles, maintains, processes, and prepares a variety of records and reports; types transcripts from taped interviews; maintains various files; prepares supplemental reports as directed.
• As assigned, processes, evaluates, and distributes police reports and records ensuring that information is released in accordance with related laws and departmental policies.
• Responds to telephone and fax requests from citizens, business, and other agencies; provides assistance and answers questions in response to requests; provides other agencies with criminal history information and reports; transfers calls for service to dispatch as necessary.
• Performs related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be :

Public Safety Dispatcher I

Education / Training : High School Diploma or equivalent.

Experience : One year of increasingly responsible experience in an environment with frequent interruptions, that includes a high degree of customer service is highly desirable. Some clerical or administrative experience in a fast-paced environment that involved the use of phones and a computer while working with the public is also desirable.

License or Certificate : A typing certificate showing a minimum speed of 40 wpm from an accredited testing agency is required.

Incumbents will be required to successfully complete the basic dispatcher course and obtain a valid P.O.S.T. Dispatcher Certificate within one year of hire.

Substitution : A documented T-score (50 or higher) from a dispatcher training program or certificate of completion may substitute for the required experience.

Public Safety Dispatcher II

Education / Training : High School Diploma or equivalent.

Experience : Two years of experience comparable to that of a Public Safety Dispatcher I with the City of Suisun City.

License or Certificate : Possession of a valid P.O.S.T. Dispatcher Certificate. A typing certificate showing a minimum speed of 40 wpm from an accredited testing agency is required. The typing certificate requirement may be waived for lateral dispatcher candidates transferring from another public safety / enforcement dispatching agency.

Supplemental Information

Positions assigned to the police department will be required to pass a thorough background investigation, including polygraph testing and must be able to maintain the same level of security as when first hired, as a condition of continued employment. Assignments to the police department will require successful completion of a comprehensive pre-employment psychological and medical examination prior to employment.

Physical Demands and Working Environment : The conditions outlined in the class specification are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Application / Selection Procedure : Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the City's official application form but should accompany the application. All applications and resumes will be reviewed to select those applicants whose qualifications appear to most closely match the requirements of the position. A limited number of the most highly qualified applicants may be invited to participate in the subsequent phase(s) of the recruitment process, which may include one or more of the following : written examination, performance examination, assessment exercises, oral interviews, and complete background checks. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee advancement in the selection process.

Compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) : With prior notice to the Personnel Department regarding testing or job performance modifications, the City will make reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. Disabled individuals requiring accommodation during the application / hiring process should notify the personnel office.

Immigration Reform & Control Act : In accordance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, all potential employees will be required to provide proof of United States Citizenship or authorization to work in the United States. The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.

SCPOA

Dispatchers must be high functioning multi-taskers, as this job requires rapidly and effectively switching back and forth between tasks, based on importance and urgency. Describe your level and type of experience and skill in multi-tasking. Include any experience you have working in a fast-paced environment, with multiple competing priorities. In your response, please provide an example of your multi-tasking duties on a typical workday.

Dispatchers interact with a variety of people, in a variety of ways requiring excellent customer service and knowledge of techniques to diffuse complicated interactions when handling difficult members of the public. What is your experience handling the public over the phone, answering their questions, gathering information, and / or making appropriate referrals? In your response, include any experience you may have handling angry or hostile people.

Dispatchers require good organization skills and attention to detail in order to gather and manage information, use correct case numbers and incident details that may be potentially lifesaving. Describe the level of accuracy you have had to maintain in your current or in previous jobs. Include in your response the level of risk involved if not done correctly.

Do you speak, read or write in any other languages besides English? Please identify the language and your level of proficiency.

The Dispatch Center must be staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including all holidays. To facilitate this coverage, dispatchers are scheduled 12-hour workdays, and may be assigned to day, swing, graveyard or overlapping shifts. Have you ever had to work shift work, including working weekends and holidays?

Have you taken the California POST Public Safety Dispatcher Test within the last year and received a T-score of 50 or above? If so, what was your T-score? Attach to application or email your certificate to [email protected] and include the recruitment job number in the subject line.

Required Question