Police Dispatcher/Clerk (Experienced)

at  City of La Palma CA

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of: proper operation of telephone, standard voice radio receiving and transmitting equipment and burglar alarm reception equipment; correct English usage, spelling, punctuation and grammar; modern office practices, procedures, methods and equipment; techniques to elicit information from upset citizens.
Ability to: communicate clearly, concisely orally and in writing; learn standard broadcasting procedures and rules associated with the operation of a law enforcement communications network; learn to operate computer-aided dispatch and records management systems quickly and accurately; understand and follow oral and written instructions; perform a variety of routine clerical tasks efficiently and with little supervision; operate computerized dispatch equipment quickly and accurately; learn public safety classification codes and computer commands; handle irate and upset citizens effectively; think and act quickly and calmly in emergency situations; establish and maintain effective working relationships with management, staff, the public and those contacted in the course of the work; provide a high level of customer service.
Education and/or Experience
Any combination of education and/or experience that has provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary. Example combinations include equivalent to graduation from high school and one year of public customer service contact and / or radio dispatch work.

Essential duties include, but are not limited to, the following:
Monitors telephones, CCTV and radio in the dispatch center, answers all incoming calls and ascertains nature of call, gathers all necessary information to transmit or relay; greets and directs public at counter; accepts bail and prepares documents for release of stored and impounded vehicles.
Dispatches police and other response vehicles for emergency responses; broadcasts nature, location and time of incident; contacts all required personnel and other local concerns such as the fire department in the event of an emergency situation.
Conducts record checks; sends, receives and decodes teletype information; monitors jail calls for emergencies or security problems; monitors, receives and sends information via the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System.
Maintains records of radio and telephone communications, location of personnel and equipment; in the event of an emergency situation, maintains on going contact with the responding personnel and keeps them informed of all incoming pertinent information; keeps track of various information such as traffic lights out and streets closed and keeps emergency personnel informed.
Maintains dispatch center work area and equipment in clean and orderly condition; operates radios as needed and assists in radio communications; operates base radio as required; operates office machines as required
Composes, types, and edits correspondence, reports, memoranda, and other material requiring judgment as to content, accuracy, and completeness; inputs data to standard office and department forms, both manual and automated; makes simple postings to various reports; compiles and tabulates data; maintains dispatch documents and records including entering and retrieving data from CAD system and other records systems.
Performs other duties as assigned.