Public Safety Dispatcher

Public Safety Dispatcher

The City of Denton is seeking a Public Safety Dispatcher for the Public Safety Communications department. This position reports to the Public Safety Communications Supervisor and is designated as Non-Exempt. Depending on the experience and qualifications of the successful candidate, those applicants with more experience will be eligible to hire in at a higher rate that commiserates with their experience. The annualized pay rate is $50,035.75 - $71,296.00.

Applicants will undergo a series of steps to continue in the hiring process, including a preliminary interview form, skills testing, interviews, a personal history statement, a background investigation, a polygraph examination, a psychological evaluation, a health assessment and drug screen.

The Public Safety Dispatcher performs specialized radio and communications work, operating radio, telephone, and related communications equipment to receive and relay information to responders. This position prioritizes and assigns appropriate response for emergency and non-emergency service calls for assigned area of responsibility. Maintains logs and records of all activity as required. Provides support information to police officers, firefighters / paramedics, the general public, and other agencies as required. Responsible for answering emergency calls, non-emergency calls, incoming administrative lines, and giving medical instructions to callers.

Essential Job Functions :

• Answers incoming 911, TTY emergency and non-emergency calls. Prioritizes calls and determines proper routing utilizing established guidelines and operating procedures.
• Assigns calls and report numbers.
• Dispatches animal services officers, police officers, firefighters, and ambulance services to calls for service.
• Evaluates information to determine jurisdiction, equipment, and personnel to be dispatched.
• Confirms warrants for internal and external agencies.
• Monitors multiple radio channels and dispatches appropriate public safety personnel.
• Ensures dispatch of officer requests for back-up or traffic-related assistance, etc.
• Provides pre-arrival instructions for emergency medical calls and relays vital information to hospital emergency rooms when necessary.
• Maintains the accurate status of each officer on patrol, firefighters, EMS, and animal services personnel, including times in and out of service and locations.
• Documents all 800 MHz radio transmissions.
• Runs wanted and / or stolen checks through the National and Texas computer systems for outstanding warrants or other information. Confirms and relays information to originating officers.
• Inputs and monitors teletype information from burglary reports, protective orders, and missing person reports from applicable regional, state, and national databases.
• Sends teletypes, which includes entering, clearing, canceling, along with validating computer entries.
• Obtains a variety of information for officers and / or applicable external police agencies, which may include : driver's license information, criminal histories, property information, and / or other related information.
• Maintains familiarity with major streets, public buildings, industrial plants, and the general geographic layout of the City of Denton, Texas including reading and understanding maps.
• Ability to work 12-hour shifts, days, nights, rotating shifts, weekends, holidays, and be available on an on-call basis as needed.

Additional Duties :

Minimum Qualifications / Acceptable Equivalency :

Core Competencies :

Conditions of Employment :

Location : Denton, TX