PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHER



Job Details

PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHER
Employer

City of Torrance

Salary

$4,281.33 - $6,023.33 Monthly

Location

Torrance, CA

Job Type

Full-time

Job Number

17127305

Department

Police

Opening Date

12/13/2017

Closing Date

Continuous

DESCRIPTION

WE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE APPLICANTS TO READ THE JOB ANNOUNCEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION FOR THIS POSITION.
____________________________________________________________________________

The City of Torrance is accepting applications for Public Safety Dispatchers!

If you are interested in a career that is challenging and have a sincere desire to help people, then this position may be for you. The Torrance Police Department is seeking dedicated individuals to serve as Public Safety Dispatchers.

Dispatchers operate communication systems utilizing radio, telephone and computer equipment to receive 911 emergency and routine calls requesting Police or Fire services. These individuals prioritize emergency calls under direction to ensure that calls of a more urgent nature receive priority over other calls; maintain records of activities in response to service requests; and provide information to the public. Perform related work as required. 

HOURS: Night shift differential pay, 5% for swing shift and 7-1/2% for graveyard shift.
You must be available to work rotating shifts, including day, evening, graveyard, weekends and holidays.

LATERAL INCENTIVE PROGRAM: The Public Safety Dispatch Lateral Transfer Program includes a transfer incentive in the amount of $1,500.  Upon successful completion of the probationary period (12 months), employees will be credited with 72 hours of sick leave and 111.96 hours of vacation leave.  A lateral-entry Public Safety Dispatcher is distinguished from entry-level Public Safety Dispatcher in that the lateral-entry Public Safety Dispatcher is required to have two (2) years of continuous employment as a Dispatcher or Communications Operator (in Police or Fire) within the last three (3) years and possess a POST Public Safety Dispatch Certificate. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience
Any combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge and skills required is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills would be:
 
Graduation from high school or possession of a GED Certificate.


AND

One year of experience in voice communications equipment or public contact work involving the use of communication equipment.
 
License and/or Certificates
Must obtain and maintain a valid California POST Public Safety Dispatch Certificate and Emergency Medical Dispatch Certificate within one (1) year of hire.
 
Ideal Candidate
In addition to the minimum requirements, a desirable candidate will possess:
  • The ability to remain calm, have a clear and controlled voice, think quickly and logically in emergency situations, handle multiple tasks simultaneously and learn quickly;
  • The skill to operate a computer keyboard by touch;
  • Excellent memorization skills;
  • Experience as a Police, Fire or other emergency dispatcher involving computer-aided dispatching;
  • POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate (5% premium pay); and
  • Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Certificate (5% premium pay).

HOW TO APPLY & EXAM PROCESS

Interested candidates must submit an online application and supplemental questionnaire at www.TorranceCA.Gov/Jobs. At time of application, candidates must also submit a keyboarding test certificate from a verifiable source such as one of the South Bay One-Stop Business and Career Centers dated within one (1) year of written exam date. This link http://www.southbay1stop.org/contact-us will provide you the locations which includes Torrance One-Stop, Gardena One-Stop, Carson One-Stop and Inglewood One-Stop.

Qualified candidates must type a minimum of 45 words per minute (WPM) with an accuracy rate of 90%. Only those candidates meeting this requirement will be invited to continue in the recruitment process. Applications will be considered incomplete for failure to attach keyboarding test certificate at time of application.


Application submissions will be accepted on a continuous basis until the positions are filled.  

Only those candidates who best meet the City and Department's needs will be invited to participate in the examination process, which will consist of the following components:
 
Written Exam: 40% (To be determined)
Oral Exam: 60% (To be determined)

Examinations will be conducted on a periodic basis depending on the needs of the City and the number of applicants. 

SPECIAL NOTES

Names of candidates will be retained on the eligible list for a period of twelve (12) months. Applicants may test for Public Safety Dispatcher only once in a six (6) month period.
 
As a condition of employment, candidates must pass a pre-employment medical examination. Candidates successful on all parts must pass a background check which will include job and personal references, arrest records, credit history, and use of controlled substances; as well as a psychological evaluation and polygraph test before being hired.
 
Applicants with disabilities who require special testing arrangements must contact Human Resources.
 
As a condition of employment, candidates must pass a background check and a pre-employment medical examination.
 
The provisions of this announcement do not constitute an expressed or implied contract, and any provisions contained in this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice.

BENEFIT SUMMARY FOR TORRANCE MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (TME-AFSCME)
Note:  Not all benefits listed may be applicable to all positions with in the unit.  Please refer to the MOU for specifics.
 
 
Health, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance (sec. 4.9)
The City's monthly contribution for health insurance is as follows:
                                        Employee Only                 Emp. +1                           Emp. +2 or more
Full Time                            392.68                              785.36                             1020.96
Part-Time
(hired prior to 1/1/08)            345.79                              674.48                             871.66
Part-Time
(hired after 1/1/08)               248.84                              445.18                             562.98
 
Permanent Part-Time Employees (Sec. 2.9)
Permanent p/t employees working 20 hours or more per week are entitled to all benefits.  Accrual of time and money shall be ½ the amount received by full-time employees.
 
The City's monthly contribution for vision insurance is $3.23
The City's monthly contribution for dental insurance is $38.22/EE only and $76.44/EE +1 or more
City provides a $50,000 life insurance policy
 
Premiums (sec. 3.1)
Designated Assignments:  Varies (see Sec 3.1.D)
 
Longevity (Sec. 2.6)
Start of 7th YOS:  2 ½% above base pay            Start of 15th YOS:  7 ½% above base pay
Start of 11th YOS:  5% above base pay              Start of 19th YOS:  10% above base pay
*Not applicable to Public Safety Dispatcher and Animal Control Officer
 
Night /Weekend Shift (sec. 3.5) (sec. 3.6)
Swing Shift:  5% over base pay when ½ or more of the shift is worked after 4:00 p.m.
Graveyard Shift: 7 ½% over base when ½ or more of the shift is worked after midnight
Weekend Shift: 5% over base pay for hours worked on Saturday and Sunday only
 
Disability Insurance (sec. 4.9)
Employee receives 2/3 base pay after elimination period (14 consecutive days for STD and 180 consecutive days for LTD)
*(See Sec 4.9.B for details on coverage for employees who don't qualify for commercial policy).
 
Retirement (sec. 4.10)
PERS 2@55, single highest year and military buy-back and supplemented by Social Security.
Employees hired prior to 2/1/2011, City pays 7% EPMC. 
Employees hired on or after 2/1/2011 pay 7% employee's contribution.  
"Classic members" hired on or after 1/1/2013, pay 7% employee's contribution.
PERS 2@62 "New members" hired on or after 1/1/2013, pay (50%) of normal cost with three year average final compensation.             
 
Holidays (sec. 4.1)
13 paid holidays (New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Lincoln's Birthday, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday after Thanksgiving, last working day before Christmas, Christmas Day & last working day before New Year's). 
 
Sick Leave/Personal Leave (sec. 4.3)
Accrue 6 hours per month; maximum accrual of 600 hours.
*Eight (8) hours per month for employees hired before 7/1/75 (except for those not covered by LTD).
**Two work shifts of sick leave may be used for personal leave
 
Vacation Leave (sec. 4.2)
Vacation accrual rate per month:
Years 1 -2 : 9.33 hours; Year 3: 10 hours; Year 4: 10.67 hours; Years 5 – 9: 12.67.hours; Years 10 – 20: 16.02 hours; Years 21 – 24: 17.33 hours; Year 25+: 18 hours 
Maximum Accrual up to the amount earned over the preceding 36 months.
*Two work shifts of vacation leave may be used for personal leave
 
Bereavement Leave (sec. 4.6)
Two (2) work shifts (up to two additional work shifts for travel 300 miles or more)
 
Family-School Partnership Leave (Sec. 9.8)
40 hours unpaid per calendar year (employees may use accrued vacation or comp time)
 
Safety Shoes (Sec. 4.14.A)
Allowance of $125 each 6 months of employment (paid June and December), for those required to wear safety shoes. ($250/year for Animal Control Officer; paid September)
 
Tool Allowance (Sec. 4.12)
$250 each 6 months (paid June and December) – (Body and Paint Mechanic, Mechanic, Sr. Mechanic, Welder and Sr. Welder)  *Mechanic or Sr. Mechanic required to use metric tools, receive one time $100 reimbursement upon proof of purchase
$175 tool and educational material allowance (paid in February) – Animal Control Officer
 
Uniforms (Sec. 4.11)
$80 each 6 months -Telecommunications Techs, Wireless Techs, and Water Tech II (acting in capacity of Water Quality Inspectors)
$225 each 6 months – Bus Operator, Transit Dispatchers, Police Services Officer and Animal Control Officer.  (Payable June and December of each year)
 
Deferred Compensation (sec 4.15)
457 Plan:  Enrollment is voluntary.
Upon completion of year one, employees receive a non-matching deferred City contribution of $300 ($11.54 per pay period) per calendar year.
 

01
The following supplemental questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for the position for which you are applying. Resumes are encouraged but will NOT be used in lieu of the application or supplemental questions. Please read each question carefully and provide a thorough and complete response. Do NOT state "see resume" or "see application" to respond to any of the following questions. Failure to respond to all questions will be considered an incomplete application and may not be considered for further processing. Do you understand the foregoing?
  • Yes
  • No
02
Please indicate the amount of full-time experience you possess in operating voice communication equipment or performing public contact work which involved the use of communication equipment (i.e. telephones, two-way radio, etc.).
  • No experience
  • Less than 1 year
  • More than 1 year but less than 2 years
  • More than 2 years but less than 3 years
  • More than 3 years
03
What percentage of your work time were you operating voice communication equipment?
04
This position requires you to be able and willing to work all rotating shifts, including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays. Do you meet this requirement?
  • Yes
  • No
05
Have you worked as a public safety dispatcher?
  • No experience
  • Less than 1 year
  • More than 1 year but less than 2 years
  • More than 2 years but less than 3 years
  • More than 3 years
06
Have you worked full-time dispatching other types of emergency units?
  • No experience
  • Less than 1 year
  • More than 1 year but less than 2 years
  • More than 2 years but less than 3 years
  • More than 3 years
07
Please briefly describe your dispatching experience. In your response, include the type of equipment used (i.e. telephone, two-way radio, etc.). If no experience, type "N/A".
08
Did your dispatching experience include the use of a computer-aided system?
  • Yes
  • No
09
Can you operate a computer keyboard by touch?
  • Yes
  • No
10
Do you possess and maintain a POST Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate?
  • Yes
  • No
11
Do you possess and maintain an Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) Certificate?
  • Yes
  • No
12
Have you taken any training or coursework in emergency dispatching? If yes, please give the date(s) of training, and briefly describe the training.
13
Are you able to read and give directions from a map or Thomas Guide?
  • Yes
  • No
14
How familiar are you with Torrance streets, businesses and emergency facilities?
  • Not at all familiar
  • Somewhat familiar
  • Very Familiar
15
What do you feel are the main sources of stress in a Public Safety Dispatcher job?
16
A keyboarding test certificate must be attached at time of application. As stated in the job bulletin, candidates must type a minimum of 45 words per minute (WPM) with an accuracy rate of 90%. Failure to attach the keyboarding test certificate at time of application will result in your application being incomplete. Have you attached your keyboarding test certificate to your application?
  • Yes
  • No

* Required Question

Employer
City of Torrance
Address
3231 Torrance Blvd.

Torrance, California, 90503
Phone
310-618-2915

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