City of Vallejo is hiring: Communications Operator II in Vallejo

THE POSITION

This recruitment is being conducted to fill five full-time vacancies, and is open to applicants who currently possess a Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Public Safety Dispatchers' Basic certificate, a CLETS certificate verifying full access, AND at least one year of public safety dispatching experience, or three years of experience as a police officer. The list established by this recruitment may be used to fill future full-time, part-time, limited term, and temporary vacancies for up to one year.

The City of Vallejo Police Department is seeking Communications Operator II candidates to perform a variety of complex duties in direct support of public safety personnel including receipt, interpretation, and dispatching of calls for law enforcement, fire, ambulance and other emergency assistance; direct fire and medical emergencies to the proper agency for response; accurately utilize a computer-aided dispatch system to initiate a response to effectively handle emergencies; utilize a two-way radio system to communicate with field units; accurately maintain the status of all field units; and provide information and assistance to the public.

The ideal candidate will be capable of assertively taking command of situations in a sensitive yet straightforward manner, while showing consideration and respect to others. They will have the ability to deal with stressful and pressured situations in an efficient and controlled manner. Candidates must demonstrate good decision-making skills under pressure, work with minimum supervision, and be a collaborative team member with a positive attitude. Additionally, candidates should have the ability to work all shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays.

THE DEPARTMENT
As an integral part of the community, the Vallejo Police Department is committed to providing a highly professional, ethical, and quality Police service. The Communications Section is an essential part of the Police Department team. It provides Public Safety Communications for the Police and Fire Departments. With a staff of 15 Communications Operators, we answer 9-1-1 and other telephone calls, dispatch Police, Fire and Medical responses in the greater Vallejo area. Communications Operators use modern computer and radio equipment to record information and dispatch units to calls for service.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is the full journey level class within the Communications Operator series. Employees within this class are distinguished from the Communications Operator I by the performance of the full range of duties as assigned in the Communications Section and/or the Patrol Division. Newly hired employees are expected to satisfactorily complete an eighteen month probationary period.

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

When Functioning in the Communications Center:

• Receives, interprets, classifies, prioritizes and responds to calls of a routine and emergency nature, including those calls involving life-threatening situations.
• Assigns calls to police units for necessary action, determining the appropriate units required for response.
• Dispatches law enforcement or other emergency personnel and equipment.
• Provides information to officers and field personnel expeditiously.
• Accurately processes information received in the communications center and disseminates that information to the appropriate concerned parties.
• Maintains a variety of automated and manual logs, records and files related to communications center activities.
• Respond to public inquiries in a courteous manner; provide information; resolve complaints in an efficient and timely manner.

Knowledge of:

• Customer service and professional telephone answering techniques.
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
• Correct English usage, spelling, punctuation and grammar.
• Procedures used in operating Computer Aided Dispatch and 9-1-1 systems for a large agency.
• Basic communications rules and regulations governing the operation of radio transmitting and receiving systems.

Ability to:

• Act appropriately and decisively under stressful and/or emergency situations.
• Learn, apply and maintain knowledge of departmental rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Speak clearly and concisely in a well-modulated voice pattern.
• Effectively communicate with and elicit information from upset and irate citizens.

Experience:
One year of public safety dispatching experience or three years of experience as a police officer and the POST Entry-level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery as required under POST guidelines.

Training:
Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade. Specialized training in law enforcement practices, rules, procedures, codes and regulations is desirable.

License or Certificate:

• Possession of a valid, appropriate California driver's license at the time of employment.
• Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Public Safety Dispatchers' certificate is required.
• California Law Enforcement Telephone System (CLETS) Certificate with full access is required.

The Recruitment and Selection Process
1. Applicants must submit a completed City of Vallejo online application, including all responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire (Resume/Cover Letter Optional), a copy of Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Public Safety Dispatchers' Basic certificate, and a copy of a California Law Enforcement Telephone Systems (CLETS) certificate with full access in order to be considered.

PRIOR TO HIRE
The selected candidate(s) will be required to successfully complete and pass the following to advance in the hiring process:

• Oral Board
• Department Level Interview
• Completed Personal History Statement (PHS)
• LiveScan - fingerprint check for criminal history information
• Polygraph
• POST Dispatcher Background Investigation
• Psychological Assessment
• Medical Assessment, including drug screening

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS 
The City of Vallejo is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).