6J32

PAY RANGE: 16

POLICE COMMUNICATIONS DISPATCHER

(Bilingual)

(General)

GENERAL DEFINITION

This is police emergency radio communications work at the full performance level. Employees work on a rotating shift operating a variety of communications equipment for receiving and transmitting information to departmental units. Employees in the class are responsible for receiving, screening and processing calls from the public and police personnel, determining the priority level of requests for services, collecting and disseminating pertinent information from callers and dispatching the appropriate resources to the incident. Accessing and maintaining the security of highly sensitive materials is significant to the work. Work is performed under the supervision of a uniformed officer.

ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to be allocated to this class.)

1. Employees in the class must perform full performance police emergency radio communications work on a rotating shift.

2. Employees in the class must maintain annual state and national fingerprint-based background check clearance as required by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Security Policy.

3. Employees in the class must possess and maintain certifications as a Call Taker and an Emergency Dispatcher as issued by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Association (PEMA) at the time of application and during tenure of employment in the class.

TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

BOTH SPECIALTIES

Answers incoming calls from the general public; determines the nature and urgency of such calls by extracting pertinent information from distressed callers; re-routes and otherwise disposes of calls not requiring emergency police department response; selects proper situation codes and enters pertinent information into a computer; determines nature of pertinent comments to place in text section of terminal input format.

Keys codes into terminal keyboard to display incoming call information; selects from available patrol officers displayed on terminal screen to dispatch; relays over a variety of radio bands data to selected vehicles; selects alternative patrol officers according to protocol and judgment when regular patrol officers are unavailable; selects disposition codes to clear jobs; reads daily reminder bulletins over police dispatch radio for uniformed officers.

Receives requests for information from police district units and other agencies such as the status of stolen vehicles and missing persons; utilizes computer terminals and systems commands to access various police information networks and databases, including the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database, to retrieve data in response to information requests; ensures the security and confidentiality of the information consistent with applicable laws and regulations.

Instructs and advises trainees, both non-uniformed and uniformed, in techniques and procedures of a computer-assisted dispatch system; may conduct refresher training sessions for experienced personnel.

Performs related work as required.

BILINGUAL SPECIALTY

Answers incoming calls from the public in English and a designated non-English foreign language; uses both English and a designated non-English foreign language to obtain pertinent information on calls requiring police action; dispatches police equipment required for each situation.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

KNOWLEDGE OF:

· the practices, methods and procedures of operating a computer-assisted dispatch (CAD) system to dispatch police vehicles in response to calls

· the geography of the city

· the spelling of city streets and area names

· the location and boundaries of police districts

· the state and federal laws and rules governing the security and integrity of criminal justice information

· techniques of questioning for both emergency and non-emergency calls

· law enforcement codes, procedures and practices.

SKILL IN:

· extracting pertinent information

· multi-tasking

ABILITY TO:

· obtain essential information from persons under emergency conditions

· think clearly and act quickly in emergency situations

· establish priorities during emergency situations

· communicate information clearly and effectively to the general public and uniformed officers

· operate a variety of computerized police information network systems

· type information into a computer terminal accurately and at minimum speed established by the department

· operate communication equipment including telephones and radios

· speak, read and write a specified foreign language and the English language fluently and clearly for the Bilingual specialty

· manage call logs for verification and documentation purposes

· instruct new employees in public safety dispatch procedures, policies and techniques

· maintain access to, and security of, highly sensitive materials

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 8/15.)

EDUCATION:

BOTH SPECIALTIES

Education equivalent to completion of the twelfth school grade.

AND CERTIFICATION:

Current valid certification as a Call Taker and an Emergency Dispatcher as issued by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Association (PEMA)

AND

EXPERIENCE:

One year of current experience performing police emergency radio communications work with responsibility for receiving calls for emergency service and dispatching vehicles by means of a variety of police communications equipment.

OR

Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources which has included certifications issued by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Association (PEMA) as listed above.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR THE BILINGUAL SPECIALTY

Sufficient training and/or experience to be able to understand and speak fluently and clearly in English and the designated non-English foreign language.

PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS

Ability to meet the physical and medical standards approved for this class.

Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS, AND/OR CERTIFICATES

Must be able to maintain annual state and national fingerprint-based background check clearance as required by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Security Policy.

Must be certified by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency as an Emergency Dispatcher and a Call Taker at the time of application and during tenure of employment as a Police Communications Dispatcher.

Class Established 8/62

Spec. Revision 9/89

Spec. Revision: CSC – 5/10; Ad. Board – 7/10

Latest Spec. Revision: CSC – 8/15; Ad. Board – 8/15

Change in pay rate:
CSC – 7/21

Ad. Board – 8/21

Change in pay rate:

CSC – 3/24

Ad. Board – 4/24