Public Safety Dispatcher II - Berkeley

Berkeley, California is a small city with a big reputation. At just ten square miles of land and seven square miles of water, Berkeley is famous around the globe as a center for academic achievement, scientific exploration, free speech, and the arts, and home to over 50 parks, a top-ranked university, and the largest public marina in the San Francisco Bay.

The City of Berkeley invites you to apply for the position of Public Safety Dispatcher II in the Police Department! In this role, you will receive 911 system emergency and non-emergency calls, dispatch assignments according to police and fire procedures, and maintain records.

The Public Safety Dispatcher II provides technical communications support and computer information processing for police, fire, animal control, parking enforcement and public works functions in a limited capacity. In addition to dispatching and call screening, you'll perform varied record keeping, information retrieval and similar work in support of public safety activities.

Public Safety Dispatchers in the Berkeley Communications Center typically operate in four distinct positions. While Public Safety Dispatcher I possesses the skills and responsibility for two positions (Call Taker and Records), those at Public Safety Dispatcher II level possess the skills and responsibility for all four positions.

1. Call Taker (handle phone calls, service requests, operate secondary radio channel) 
2. Records (handle phone calls, database entries/removals/inquires, operate records radio channel) 
3. Fire Dispatcher (dispatch and monitor fire/medical resources, operate fire channels) 
4. Police Dispatcher (dispatch and monitor police resources, operate police channel)

See the full job description here: Public Safety Dispatcher II

A typical way of gaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position is:
EDUCATION
Equivalent to graduation from high school
 
EXPERIENCE
Successful completion of the first two components of the City's Public Safety Dispatcher Training Program (Call Taker and Records) and successful completion of the probation period as a Public Safety Dispatcher I with the City of Berkeley.
OR
The equivalent of two (2) years full-time experience working independently in emergency services or communications with computer use and/or two-way radio operations with a consolidated public safety agency (dispatching police and fire)
OR
The equivalent of three (3) years full-time experience working independently in emergency services or communications with computer use and/or two-way radio operations with a non-consolidated public safety agency, and possession of a Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Dispatch certificate.
 
LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS
Must be able to pass a medical and psychological evaluation. Must be willing to work evening, night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
 
Must be able to travel to various locations within and outside the City of Berkeley to meet program needs and to fulfill the job responsibilities. When driving on City business, the incumbent is required to maintain a valid California driver's license as well as a satisfactory driving record.

Applicants must submit:

• Completed application (Please note that resumes are not a substitute for a completed application.)
• Responses to the supplemental questionnaire
• Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Dispatch certificate (if applicable)

PRE-EMPLOYMENT PROCESS 

Candidates under final consideration for employment with the City will undergo an employment background check that may include, but is not limited to: confirmation of employment history, educational credentials and degrees, certificates, registrations, and licenses including driver's license; credit check; criminal history check; and Live Scan fingerprinting. 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) EMPLOYER 

The City of Berkeley is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. All employment actions shall be administered regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, physical or mental disability or medical condition, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, political affiliation, veterans’ status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law. 

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER 

All City employees are required to provide services as Disaster Service Workers in the event of an emergency/disaster.

Philip Downs