Job Information

EMERYVILLE CITY OF
2449 POWELL STREET
EMERYVILLE, CALIFORNIA 94608
(510)596-4392
http://www.ci.emeryville.ca.us/123/Police

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Updated: May 07, 2025

POLICE COMMUNICATIONS DISPATCHER

Salary Range from $93,168.00 - $113,256.00 Annually

The Emeryville Police Department is accepting applications for Entry and Lateral Dispatchers. This position is open until filled.

ABOUT EMERYVILLE:

Emeryville is located at the heart of the San Francisco Bay Area. The City is centrally located and accessible, resting at the east landing of the Bay Bridge and bounded by Interstate freeways 80, 880, and 580. Its central location is the gateway to an extensive region that includes all major northern California cities, businesses, and universities. The City is proud of its reputation as a leader in community development, cutting edge programs, and progressive approaches to organizational issues. Emeryville has evolved from an industrial environment to a retail/technology community. The city and school district share a magnificent state-of-the-art school and community center complex, and the City is forging a new vision through its General Plan Update.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

The Emeryville Police Department is a proactive, professional, public safety organization that prides itself on its thoughtful interactions and unwavering support with/for the community. The Department’s culture preserves a family atmosphere while maintaining its professional status, which strongly emphasizes a collaborative approach to problem-solving. In addition, to the basic services such as patrol and dispatch, the Emeryville Police Department provides special services such as traffic, bicycle, foot patrol, K9, field evidence, investigations, youth diversion, crime analysis, and other services. Members of the Department pride themselves on being an organization that is respected by law enforcement peers and fully responsive to the public safety needs of the community. There is a strong commitment and dedication to making the City of Emeryville a safe environment to live and work.

The Emeryville Police Department prides itself on providing a level of service that is unsurpassed. Each member of the Department is expected to live up to a unique "Statement of Values."

ABOUT THE POSITION:

The 9-1-1 Dispatch Center provides a full array of public safety communications services for Police, Fire, and EMS on a 24-hour, 7-day basis. The Police Communications Dispatcher receives and transmits routine and 9-1-1 emergency telephone and radio calls, dispatches required personnel and/or equipment; performs responsible clerical work of moderate complexity; operates various dispatch center equipment including computer terminals; maintains equipment; and performs related work as required.

Successful completion of the California Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Public Safety Dispatcher Basic Course is required within 12 months of hire and is a condition of passing the probationary period. The City of Emeryville Police Department will send employees to the course unless they are already in possession of the POST certification.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL POSSESS THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES TO:

Answer 9-1-1 emergency and routine calls for service
Dispatch appropriate personnel to location or incident scene
Respond to needs of officers involved in law enforcement related activities
Maintain composure during incident period and prioritize tasks according to importance
Relay information to other agencies and coordinate mutual response radio traffic
Operate a variety of equipment such as: Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, record management system (RMS), personal computer, on-line computer terminal, vehicle, multiple-line telephone and police radio
Assess situations and make appropriate decisions consistent with established guidelines and training
Maintain accurate department and law enforcement records and files
Research and compile data and prepare reports of reported emergencies, equipment dispatched, and/or position of emergency
Act as first line answering point for the department and respond to requests from the public
Work various hours including rotating shifts, weekends, holidays, and overtime as required
Effectively use the English language including spelling, vocabulary, punctuation, and grammar

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

For Entry Level:

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12^th) grade
Must be at least 18 years of age by date of appointment
Experience in a customer setting, customer service involving public contact while performing multiple tasks is preferred
Either possess a Dispatcher Academy Certificate or have completed the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery or passed the National Testing Network’s (NTN) “Emergency Communications” test

For Lateral Level:

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth (12^th) grade
Must be at least 18 years of age by date of appointment
Experience in a customer setting, customer service involving public contact while performing multiple tasks is preferred
Possess a POST Public Safety Dispatcher Basic (or higher) Certificate

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Must obtain a POST Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate prior to completion of probationary period.
Typing Certificate (Entry Level only): The typing certificate must be issued within the last 6 months and demonstrate typing proficiency of at least 35 net wpm. The City will not accept typing certificates obtained from an on-line typing service. A list of agencies that provide typing certificates is available on the City's website at emeryville.org under the Human Resources section.
Possession of a valid California Driver’s License with a satisfactory driving record by date of appointment.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Must possess the mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office and law enforcement communications equipment; have the stamina to maintain attention to detail and work on a computer for an extended period of time; eye sight sufficient to read data, memos, spreadsheets, vouchers, and computer screens; the manual dexterity to operate a personal computer, typewriter, photocopier, and word processor; the ability to sit for extended periods; the ability to stand, walk, bend, and reach above and below the shoulders; able to lift and carry objects weighing up to twenty (20) pounds; work occasional long hours; and hear tones, signals, radio and phone traffic.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience in dispatch or other law enforcement related field
Bi-lingual
Possession of College Credits
Possession of a POST approved Dispatcher Basic Academy Certificate
Possession of a POST Public Safety Dispatcher Basic Certificate or higher (obtained by passing a dispatcher academy and completing probation with any CA Law Enforcement agency)

PROBATIONARY PERIOD/REPRESENTATION BENEFITS:
The probationary period for new employees is twelve (12) months, which may be extended by an additional three (3) months. This position is represented by SEIU, Local 1021.

THE SELECTION PROCESS
Stage I: Application and Certificate (Pass/Fail) -The first stage in the selection process will consist of an application and certificate appraisal review (pass/fail). If you possess any of the following, you should attach them to your application.

Dispatcher Academy Certificate or confirmation you have completed the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery or your test results from National Testing Network’s (NTN) “Emergency Communications” test, which shows you passed the test. Passing test scores for the NTN “Emergency Communications” test are as follows: 53% for Call Taker, 64% for Notes, and 43% for Dispatch. Please note that you are responsible for paying the test fee to NTN and scheduling your test. (Entry Level)
POST Public Safety Dispatcher Basic (or higher) Certificate (Lateral Level)

Typing Certificate (Entry level): The typing certificate must be issued within the last 6 months and demonstrate typing proficiency of at least 35 net wpm. The City will not accept typing certificates obtained from an on-line typing service. A list of agencies that provide typing certificates is available on the City's website at www.emeryville.org under the Human Resources section

Applications submitted without the applicable attachments will not be given further consideration. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee advancement to the next stage. Only the most suitably qualified candidates will be invited to Stage II.

Stage II: Assessment Examination (Weighted 100%) – The second stage of the selection process is designed to measure abilities that are both important to the successful performance of duties and necessary for candidates to possess before hire. The process will consist of an oral interview, a background investigation, a polygraph examination, a medical examination, and a psychological examination which will measure an individual's ability to work under stress and adapt to a strict working environment.

Candidates must achieve a scale score of 70 or more on the oral examination to be placed on the hiring list for employment consideration.

The City reserves the right to modify the selection process, as necessary, to conform to administrative or business necessity.

TO APPLY:

To be considered for this exciting career opportunity, you must submit a completed application and attach all applicable documents to your application (paper applications will not be accepted). Apply online at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/emeryville/jobs/3610184/police-communications-dispatcher

For more information about the City of Emeryville, please visit www.emeryville.org. If you have questions about this position, please contact the Human Resources Department at HR@emeryville.org.

SCREENING PROCESS:

Please do not call to confirm receipt of your application or to check your application status. Applicant’s whose backgrounds most closely match the requirements of the position may be invited to participate in the next step of the recruitment process.

The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER/REASONABLE ACCOMODATION:

The City is an equal opportunity employer and supports workplace diversity. Reasonable accommodations will be made for applicants who need special accommodations to participate in the recruitment process. Qualified individuals may receive a reasonable accommodation, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, during any phase of the recruitment process. If an accommodation is needed, please contact the Human Resources Department at HR@emeryville.org as soon as knowledge of a need for an accommodation is known.

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