Public Safety Dispatcher
UCI Series Concepts
Class Specifications - B.15
Public Safety Dispatcher–Supervisor(5218)
Lead Public Safety Dispatcher(5217)
Public Safety Dispatcher(5216)
Lead Public Safety Dispatcher Assistant(5215)
January 1991
SERIES CONCEPT
Public Safety Dispatchers, working in campus safety communications
centers,
receive calls for assistance and information; dispatch police,
emergency
medical aid and fire response; provide related automated data search
and
entry; monitor various alarm systems; and track and document field unit
activities and locations.
Public Safety Dispatchers typically answer telephones, respond to
analog and
digital alarms, operate a variety of two-way, multi-frequency radio
equipment
to dispatch and communicate with police officers, emergency medical
personnel,
fire fighters, hazardous material response teams, parking enforcement
officers,
community service officers, and civilian department employees.
Dispatchers
are responsible for assessing the nature and priority of calls for
assistance,
determining and assigning the appropriate resources, tracking and
documenting
the resulting response and disposition on both hard copy and
computerized
media. Dispatchers research and report automated and hard copy
records
relating to public safety operations, input and update local, state and
Federal
criminal records, maintain security of confidential records, purge and
destroy
confidential records in accordance with law, compile and maintain
resource
files, develop, apply and update training manuals and records and train
and
evaluate staff members.
CLASS CONCEPTS
Public Safety Dispatcher–Supervisor
Under direction, incumbents direct and supervise the activities of
dispatchers
and perform the more difficult dispatch tasks and duties as required;
develop,
implement, and audit special procedures and protocols; and plan,
organize,
direct, and evaluate the staff and operations of a communication center.
Incumbents typically have responsibility for a shift; assign, monitor,
and
check the work of dispatchers; train, direct, and audit dispatchers in
the
performance of their duties; develop and maintain records; prepare
reports on communications center activities; interface with sworn
supervision to resolve
specific problems and accomplish goals; evaluate current and propose
new
procedures to enhance the performance of the operation; evaluate the
performance of dispatchers and recommend disciplinary or commendatory
action;
compile training and operational manuals; assist in the coordination
and
operation of special law enforcement events; address and resolve
citizen
complaints; compose correspondence; identify and coordinate the need
for
communications equipment repairs. Incumbents may supervise one
shift of
several dispatchers or multiple shifts with one or two dispatchers.
Lead Public Safety Dispatcher
Under direction, incumbents act in a lead capacity to direct the
activities of
dispatchers and to perform the more difficult dispatch tasks and duties
as
required; develop, implement, and audit special procedures and
protocols.
Incumbents may have responsibility for coordinating a shift; assign,
monitor,
and check the work of dispatchers; train, direct, and audit dispatchers
in the
performance of their duties; develop and maintain records; prepare
reports on communications center activities; interface with sworn
supervision to resolve
specific problems and accomplish goals; review current and propose new
procedures to enhance the performance of the operation; record
information on
the performance of dispatchers and recommend disciplinary or
commendatory
action; compile training and operational manuals; assist in the
coordination
and operation of special law enforcement events; address and resolve
citizen
complaints; compose correspondence; identify and coordinate the need
for
communications equipment repairs. Incumbents may supervise one
shift of
several dispatchers or multiple shifts with one or two dispatchers.
Public Safety Dispatcher
Under general supervision, incumbents receive and relay calls for
assistance
via telephone, radio, and computer terminal; answer and/or redirect
calls for
information; establish priority and dispatch emergency calls; monitor,
acknowledge, and input computerized alarm data; monitor and respond to
video
display activity; track and document all related activities; access,
report,
and update automated criminal records; receive, dispatch, and maintain
hard
copy records; research and compose reports and communications equipment
as
required. Incumbents may also handle direct citizen requests and staff
mobile
and remote communications command posts during special events and
emergencies.
Assistant Public Safety Dispatcher
Under general supervision, incumbents perform the majority of the
duties of
the Public Safety Dispatcher position in a trainee capacity.
Receipt,
handling, and disposition of calls is monitored by incumbent, and all
record keeping is audited by supervisors. Incumbents perform
telephone operation/assistance and other office duties as assigned.
Incumbents are
expected to progress to the level of Public Safety Dispatcher after
successful
completion of Peace Officers Standards Training POST)and on-the-job
training.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants for positions in the Public Safety Dispatcher series are
expected
to possess the skills, knowledge, and abilities essential to the
successful
performance of the duties assigned to the position. Minimum
qualifications
for Public Safety Dispatcher include satisfactory completion of a POST-
certified, 80-hour Basic Complaint/Dispatcher course within 12 months
of the
date of hire; undergo a thorough background investigation; an
evaluation of
oral communication skills; the completion of 12 months' probation; and
the
completion of a medical examination.