Public Safety Dispatcher

Do you enjoy working with a diverse group of people?  Do you enjoy serving the public? Do you enjoy being part of a team committed to serving the needs of others?
 
 The City of Banning is seeking qualified candidates to fill vacancies for a Public Safety Dispatcher. 


JOB DEFINITION:  Under general supervision, performs duties associated with receiving emergency and non-emergency calls for Police service and dispatching appropriate units to assist the public.

The ideal candidate will:
 

• Enjoy working in a diverse environment
• Have excellent people skills
• Be a self-starter, flexible, reliable, detail oriented, ethical, and trustworthy
• Be compassionate, courteous, friendly, helpful, understanding, open minded, professional and fair when dealing with the public 
• Love and serve their community as well as members of their team

Core Competencies:
 Adaptability/Flexibility- Shifts gears comfortably.
 Collaboration-Works co-operatively with other individuals and makes valued contributions. 
 Communication - Effectively conveys and exchanges thoughts, opinions, or information verbally or in writing.
 Conflict Management-Handles conflicting interests diplomatically to help solve them.
 Decision Making-Uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions within documented organizational boundaries.
 Influence-Exerts a positive effect on other's views, attitudes, decisions, perceptions, and/or beliefs.  
 Initiative- Assesses and initiates things independently.
 Leadership-Works toward a common vision and fosters trust and ethics.
 Problem Solving -Sees and defines problems and implements solutions.
 Reliability and Commitment -Shows commitment, dedication, and accountability in one's work, and follows through on all projects, goals, aspects of one's work.
 Safety-Works to comply with safety regulations and helps to promote safety consciousness and well-being.
 Teamwork -Works collaboratively with a group of people to achieve a goal.
 Time Management/Organization-Plans and executes plans for events, tasks, or processes in an efficient manner.

About the City:
 
 The City of Banning is located in Riverside County along the route of U.S. Interstate 10 approximately 25 miles northwest of Palm Springs and 82 miles east of Los Angeles. Beautifully situated in the San Gorgonio Pass between the two highest mountain peaks in Southern California, Banning is only minutes away from many desert and mountain resorts. One of Banning’s unique characteristics is that it provides the serenity of a rural setting, yet it has easy access to major metropolitan areas.
   
  Its unique location is at a relatively high altitude (2,350 feet) in the pass which provides a favorable year-round climate and air quality. Its municipal boundaries encompass 22.117 square miles.
   
  Incorporated in 1913, Banning is a general law city with a council/manager type administration. The city has five elected council members, one of which is chosen mayor by the Council. The City Manager is the Chief Administrative Officer and is appointed by the City Council. The City of Banning is a full-service municipal government, which owns and operates its own electric and water utilities.
   
  It also offers its residents an airport, local police protection, municipal bus service, seven parks, a swimming complex, the seasonally operated Playhouse Bowl, as well as youth and leisure programs. Recreation opportunities are also abundant in nearby areas, which offer golfing, fishing, hiking, and equestrian trails.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:  The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification.  Shown are duties intended to provide a representative summary of   the major duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES: 

•  Undertakes and provides a variety of law enforcement radio-dispatch and information support services associated with assessing caller needs, dispatching law enforcement, medical and/or other public safety services required specific to the need identified. 
• Answers, identifies and prioritizes emergency and non-emergency calls and requests for service.  
•  Assesses, analyzes, evaluates and processes emergency and/or routine requests for law enforcement, medical and/or related services/assistance.  
• Tracks location and availability of law enforcement and other service responders. 
• Monitors and maintains contact with situation and individuals involved. 
• Conducts regular and periodic checks regarding status of officers and others dispatched to calls.
•  Accesses a variety of local, state and/or national databases, researches information and responds to requests for data and information. 
•  Updates and maintains a variety of files and records.  
• Logs calls and related information into electronic and/or manual recording systems. 
• Operates a computer to maintain information and data. 
• Performs other duties as assigned or required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  A high school diploma or GED AND one (1) year of customer service or secretarial experience.  Emergency services dispatching experience, or experience, paid or volunteer, in a law enforcement agency, or completion of a POST Dispatcher training course, or courses in Administration of Justice and/or Criminal Justice is PREFERRED.

 KNOWLEDGE and SKILLS:  

• Knowledge of applicable City, County, State and Federal statutes, rules, regulations, ordinances, codes, administrative orders and other operational guidelines and directives
• Knowledge of the City's and the Department's policies and procedures
• Knowledge of radio operation methods and techniques
• Knowledge of the principles of file and records management
• Knowledge of computer aided dispatch systems
• Skill in reading, understanding, interpreting and applying relevant City, County, State and Federal statutes, rules, regulations, ordinances, codes, administrative orders, policies and procedures and other operational guidelines and directives
• Skill in assessing and prioritizing multiple tasks, projects and/or demands
• Skill in working within deadlines to complete projects and assignments
• Skill in assessing, analyzing, identifying and implementing solutions to complex problems
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relations with co-workers, staff, vendors, contractors, visitors, the general public and others having business with the City of Banning and in operating a personal computer utilizing a variety of software applications.