Communications Operator II (Extra Help)

at  City of Vallejo CA

THE POSITION

The City of Vallejo is currently seeking qualified Communications Operator II’s to fill extra help positions within the Vallejo Police Department’s Communication Center. The intent of extra help positions is to assist departments in fulfilling temporary influxes of extra work that cannot be met by regular staff.
THE LIST ESTABLISHED BY THIS RECRUITMENT MAY BE USED TO FILL FUTURE FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, LIMITED TERM, AND TEMPORARY VACANCIES FOR UP TO ONE YEAR.Extra help positions are temporary, at-will, in nature and are not part of the classified civil service. As such, employees in extra help positions do not have property to permanently allocated positions and are not eligible for promotional opportunities open to regular part-time and full-time employees.
The City of Vallejo Police Department is seeking Communications Operator II candidates to perform a variety of complex duties in direct support of public safety personnel including receipt, interpretation, and dispatching of calls for law enforcement, fire, ambulance and other emergency assistance; direct fire and medical emergencies to the proper agency for response; accurately utilize a computer-aided dispatch system to initiate a response to effectively handle emergencies; utilize a two-way radio system to communicate with field units; accurately maintain the status of all field units; and provide information and assistance to the public.
The ideal candidate will be capable of assertively taking command of situations in a sensitive yet straightforward manner, while showing consideration and respect to others. They will have the ability to deal with stressful and pressured situations in an efficient and controlled manner. Candidates must demonstrate good decision-making skills under pressure, work with minimum supervision, and be a collaborative team member with a positive attitude. Additionally, candidates should have the ability to work all shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Customer service and professional telephone answering techniques.
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
• Correct English usage, spelling, punctuation and grammar.
• Procedures used in operating Computer Aided Dispatch and 9-1-1 systems for a large agency.
• Policies and procedures of receiving and processing emergency calls and requests for service.
• Basic communications rules and regulations governing the operation of radio transmitting and receiving systems.
• Standard radio broadcasting and dispatch procedures and rules.
• Geographic features and streets within the area served.
• Principles and procedures of record keeping including the maintenance and security of fire and police communications reports.
• Basic principles of report preparation.
• Techniques for dealing with the public in a tactful but firm manner.

Ability to:

• Act appropriately and decisively under stressful and/or emergency situations.
• Learn, apply and maintain knowledge of departmental rules, regulations, policies and procedures and information pertaining to law enforcement dispatch.
• Learn policies and procedures of receiving and processing emergency calls.
• Read, understand and apply a variety of call-taking information and materials.
• Learn call interview and law enforcement dispatch techniques and procedures.
• Learn basic communications rules and regulations governing the operation of radio transmitting and receiving systems.
• Utilize a two-way radio system to communicate with field units; and accurately maintain the status of all field units.
• Read and effectively interpret small-scale maps, have general knowledge of surrounding geographical area and information generated from a computer screen.
• Learn general law enforcement codes, practices and methods.
• Act promptly and appropriately in emergencies.
• Speak clearly and concisely in a well-modulated voice pattern.
• Effectively communicate with and elicit information from upset and irate citizens.
• Maintain confidentiality of information.
• Understand and follow both oral and written instructions promptly and accurately.
• Communicate effectively in the English language in both oral and written forms.
• Wear a telephone headset and be able to hear, distinguish and understand voices with background noises present.
• Type accurately at a speed necessary for successful job performance. Must type a minimum of 35 words per minute.
• Establish and maintain courteous and effective work relationships with subordinates, peers, supervisors and the general public.
• Effectively multi-task.
• Provide courteous and effective customer service.
• Maintain professional composure and take responsible and effective action during stressful situations.
• Operate radio transmitting equipment.
• Maintain familiarity with City districts and boundaries, streets, landmarks, and police jurisdictions.
• Maintain confidentiality of information.
• Learn the organization and functions of a municipal law enforcement agency.
• Learn pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations.
• Apply the laws, codes, policies and procedures related to the gathering of legal evidence.
• Apply Federal, State, City and departmental laws, policies and procedures.
• Deal with the public firmly, courteously and tactfully.
• May perform training duties for Communications Operator I level employees and other in-house training.
• Operate various office equipment including computer terminals.
• Work various shifts as assigned.
• Work flexible hours.
• Sit or stand for long periods of time.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Experience:
One year of public safety dispatching experience or three years of experience as a police officer and the POST Entry-level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery as required under POST guidelines.
Training:
Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade. Specialized training in law enforcement practices, rules, procedures, codes and regulations is desirable.

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.
Important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

When Functioning in the Communications Center:

• Receives, interprets, classifies, prioritizes and responds to calls of a routine and emergency nature, including those calls involving life-threatening situations. Enters relevant information by computer keyboard and accurately transits messages for dispatching as necessary and in accordance with established procedures operating a computer aided dispatch system.
• Assigns calls to police units for necessary action, determining the appropriate units required for response. Coordinates when necessary with patrol supervisors regarding deployment of personnel. Visually monitors video display terminals and actively listens to police radio frequencies to ensure correct status of officers and emergency personnel. Maintains contact with all units on assignment; maintains daily log of all field calls and units dispatched.
• Dispatches law enforcement or other emergency personnel and equipment. Operates a variety of communications equipment, including computer-aided dispatch terminals, radio transmitters and receivers, dispatch consoles, electronic data terminals, telephone and lease line teletype. Monitors multiple computer screens simultaneously. Enters, updates and retrieves information from computerized databases relating to wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, stolen vehicles and other information.
• Use telecommunications systems to coordinate emergency calls and relay information and assistance requests involving other law enforcement and public safety agencies. Determines appropriate communications or research channels selected from emergency telephone lines, radio room telephone lines, business telephone lines, police radio channels, other agency radio channels, and manual computerized information systems.
• Provides information to officers and field personnel expeditiously, including but not limited to, warrants, vehicles, driver’s licenses, parole, and criminal history information. Interprets or clarifies coded responses from various systems for law enforcement, public safety, or other relevant parties. Confirms warrants with responsible agencies, receives and files warrants and updates status of warrants. Receives, responds to and documents requests for Division of Motor Vehicle print-outs; documents vehicle impound information.
• Accurately processes information received in the communications center and accurately disseminates that information to the appropriate concerned parties, including but not limited to, relatives of those involved; employers; hospitals; sworn and non-sworn public safety personnel at other agencies; other City departments; ambulance services; detoxification centers; tow companies; attorneys; state parole; county probation; animal control; commercial establishments; alarm companies and schools.
• When appropriate, monitors other public safety and emergency preparedness radio traffic; security monitors; and takes necessary action.
• Maintains a variety of automated and manual logs, records and files related to communications center activities.
• Make court appearances as required related to assigned activities.
• Perform a variety of record keeping, filing, indexing and other general clerical work; maintain a variety of logs relating to public safety activities.
• Respond to public inquiries in a courteous manner; provide information; resolve complaints in an efficient and timely manner.
• Perform other work as assigned.

When Functioning in the Field:

• Operate a motor vehicle in the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities.
• Perform communications center activities in a mobile vehicle or mobile setting.
• Perform other work as assigned.