On-Call Dispatcher

Definition

Under direction performs a variety of duties involved in receiving incoming calls for police emergency assistance and dispatching necessary units; performs a variety of general support duties related to dispatch activities including record keeping, typing and filing; and monitors teletype communications.

POSITION SNAPSHOT: The Fontana Police Dispatcher is a non-uniformed position. A typical shift is 12-hours which predominantly takes place within the Dispatch Center of the Police Department. You will be a member of a productive team that operates in a fast-paced environment while answering calls from the public and communicating with department personnel in the field via phone, computer, or radio. This communication includes but is not limited to: call taking, working secondary and primary radio channels, collecting and/or passing information to partner jurisdictions, and accurate data-entry. The goal of a Dispatcher is to serve the community through respectful, empathetic communication with a focus on problem solving and maintaining professionalism.

Essential Functions

The incumbent must have the ability to:

• Receive emergency calls from the public requesting police or other emergency service; determine nature and location of emergency, determine priority and dispatch emergency units as necessary and in accordance with established procedures.
• Coordinate emergency calls and relay information and assistance requests involving other public safety agencies.
• Maintain contact with all units on assignment; maintain status and location of police field units.
• Answer non-emergency and maintenance service calls for assistance.
• Perform a variety of record keeping, filing, indexing and other general clerical work; maintain a variety of documents relating to public safety activities; prepare related reports as requested.
• Monitor alarm switchboard and dispatch assistance as needed.
• Operate a variety of public safety telecommunications equipment; test and inspect equipment as required.
• Enter, update and retrieve information from teletype networks relating to wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, stolen vehicles and other information.
• Learn departmental policies and procedures for service requests.
• Learn geographic feature and streets within the area served.
• Learn police codes, practices and methods.
• Work under pressure, exercise good judgment and make sound decisions in emergency situations.
• Effectively and courteously deal with the public.
• Work various shifts as needed.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Perform any other tasks or functions deemed necessary to the daily operations of the employer.

Experience and Training Guidelines

• Requires completion of the 12th grade or GED
• Successful completion of the probationary period as a police dispatcher in a law enforcement agency
• Two (2) years of full time dispatcher experience
• Completion of the P.O.S.T dispatcher course
• Must be familiar with a CAD system similar to the one presently in use

A typing speed of 40 wpm is required (a typing test will be administered at a later date as part of the recruitment process).

Supplemental Information

Successful candidates will be required to pass a drug screening, fingerprint screening, physical examination and a background investigation.

Click to download the Applicant Referral Form.

This position is part-time, at-will, without benefits, unless required by law.

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