COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR (EXPERIENCED)

Public Safety Dispatcher

SALARY June 24, 2023: $6,009 - $7,448 Monthly June 22, 2024: $6,309 - $7,821 Monthly June 21, 2025: $6,625 - $8,213 Monthly This posting is for applicants who already possess a Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate AND are currently working (or have worked in the last 24 months) as a public safety dispatcher in a California law enforcement agency, having completed two (2) years of employment.

Duties Summary

The fundamental reason for the existence of this classification is to receive and transmit information in the Police Communications Center via telephone, radio calls, written and coded information using a computer aided dispatch system (CADS).

Examples of Essential Duties

Under immediate supervision, operates a computer aided dispatch system to send police units in response to emergency calls and other public service needs; determines priorities of all calls and prioritizes responses when police units are needed in a number of situations which exceed available units; evaluates situations to determine appropriate units to dispatch based on availability, priority and location of units; dispatches backup units if appraisal of situation suggests the need for such support or is requested by officers; with the aid of detailed maps may direct the police units to locations; obtains required information in discussion with emergency caller; uses Orange County radio system in dispatching units; performs complaint writer function which requires receiving telephone and radio calls and typing information including codes into the CADS to create a call for service; monitors Police Building entrances on audio and visual security systems to prevent unauthorized entrance; transfers emergency information to other agencies based on information extracted from the caller; performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education, training, and experience that would likely provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform in the position is qualifying. A typical combination includes:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• POST Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate (issued by the State of California, Department of Justice). A copy of the certificate must be turned in at your oral exam.
• Please Note: This is not the 120-hour Basic Public Safety Dispatch Course Certificate

• Must be currently working, or have worked in the last 24 months, as a public safety dispatcher in a California law enforcement agency AND have completed two (2) years of employment, including successful completion of the probationary period.
• Must be available to work ALL assigned shifts, weekends and holidays; Pass comprehensive background investigation and psychological examination.
• Must type 40 words per minute (net). A typing certificate, as described below, must be turned in at or before the oral exam. You may submit a copy of your typing certificate to: [email protected].

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCEDURE: An official on-line application must be completed in its entirety. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. A copy of your POST Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate (issued by the State of California, Department of Justice) must be turned in at the oral exam. Certificates of Completion issued by a Dispatcher Academy is unacceptable. A typing certificate must be turned in at or before the oral exam. Specific instructions regarding acceptable certificates are listed below. All applications will be closely reviewed for relevant experience, education, and training. Not all candidates meeting the minimum requirements will necessarily be invited to the next phase which includes an oral exam (weighted 100%). Candidates successfully completing the oral exam will be placed on an employment eligible list from which hires may be made. The employment eligible list is valid for up to one year, unless exhausted sooner. Candidates considered for hire must undergo a comprehensive background investigation, which includes (but is not limited to) LiveScan fingerprinting, polygraph exam, credit check, reference/employer checks, DOJ and FBI checks, etc. Upon a conditional offer of employment, a pre-placement psychological evaluation, medical evaluation and drug screening must be completed with acceptable results. Upon hire, employee is subject to further reporting from DOJ via subsequent arrest notification.

Note: Our primary means of communication with applicants is via email; therefore, please include a valid email address on your application. TYPING CERTIFICATIONS: 1. Candidates must provide proof of required typing skill of 40 wpm net (gross minus number of errors). We will accept typing certificates issued within the last 12 months, from an employment or other public agency. 2. Certificates must be on official letterhead from the agency and must include a phone number and name of contact person in order to verify information. 3. Typing tests may also be taken at the locations listed below. Please call for appointments and costs.

HUNTINGTON BEACH ADULT SCHOOL 17231 Gothard Street Huntington Beach, CA 92647 714-842-4227 FOCUS EMPLOYMENT INC. 2400 E. Katella Ave. Ste. 800 Anaheim, CA 92806 (714) 848-6129 4. Alternatively, candidates may request to take a typing test on site on the day of their oral exam. Appointments shall be made in advance by sending an email request to: [email protected].

Supplemental Information

See Physical task questionnaires. Employee accommodations for physical or mental disabilities will be considered on a case-by-case basis. SPECIAL CONDITIONS Public Employee Disaster Service Worker: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all Huntington Beach city employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster.

COMMON DISQUALIFIERS Please review the following common disqualifiers. If any items listed pertain to you, you will be automatically disqualified in the background investigation. You may, at this time want to screen yourself and withdraw prior to starting the recruitment process.

Illegal use or possession of drugs The following examples of illegal drug use or possession may be considered automatic disqualifiers for applicants, with some exceptions:

• Any adult use or possession of a drug classified as a hallucinogenic within three years prior to application for employment.
• Any other illegal adult use or possession of a drug not mentioned above (including cocaine) within three years prior to application for employment.
• Any illegal adult use or possession of a drug while employed in any law enforcement capacity, military police, or as a student enrolled in college accredited courses related to the criminal justice field.
• Any adult manufacture or cultivation of a drug or illegal substance.
• Failure to divulge to the Department any information about personal illegal use or possession of drugs.
• Any drug test of the applicant, during the course of the hiring process, where illegal drugs are detected.
• The following examples of illegal drug use or possession will be considered in relationship to the overall background of that individual and may result in disqualification:
• Any illegal use or possession of a drug as a juvenile.
• Any illegal adult use or possession of a drug that does not meet the criteria of the automatic disqualifiers specified above (e.g., cocaine use longer than three years.)
• Any illegal or unauthorized use of prescription medications.

• Motor Vehicle Operations
• Receipt of three or more moving violations (or any single violation of a potential life threatening violation, such as reckless driving, speed contest, suspect of a pursuit, etc.) within three years prior to application. Moving violations for which there is a factual finding of innocence shall not be included.
• Involvement as a driver in two or more chargeable (at fault) collisions within three years prior to date of application.
• A conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs within three years prior to application or any two convictions for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

• Arrests
• Conviction of any criminal offense classified as a misdemeanor under California law within three years prior to application.
• Conviction for two or more misdemeanor offenses under California law as an adult.
• Conviction of any offense classified as a misdemeanor under California law while employed as a peace officer (including military police officers.)
• Admission(s) of having committed any act amounting to a felony (including felony-misdemeanor offenses) under California law, as an adult, within five years prior to application or while employed as a peace officer (including military police officers.)
• Admission(s) of administrative conviction of any act while employed as a peace officer (including military police officers) involving lying,