Dispatcher Recruit

Please Note: a candidate must successfully pass a thorough background investigation, including a criminal history check for job-related convictions, fingerprinting, polygraph test, psychological test, credit check, and a drug use history to be considered for this position.

DEFINITION
To attend and participate in the Sacramento Police Department's Public Safety Communications Academy to receive basic training in answering telephone requests from the public for law enforcement services, including 9-1-1 Emergency calls.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

Dispatcher Recruit is a training classification used for candidates qualified to learn the duties of a Dispatcher I. Incumbents undergo a formal classroom setting, computer lab, and hands-on training program in the Sacramento Police Department's Public Safety Communications Academy.

Upon satisfactory completion of the training and graduation from the Academy, the Dispatcher Recruit will be placed on probationary status as a Dispatcher I and assigned to the Communications Center for further on-the-job training. Incumbents are tested throughout the Academy and must achieve passing grades in order to continue in the program. Failure to complete the Academy successfully will result in release from the academy.

Dispatcher Recruit is distinguished from the Dispatcher I classification in that it is a classroom training classification, while the Dispatcher I classification involves on-the-job training.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Immediate supervision is provided by higher level Public Safety Communications personnel.

A Dispatcher Recruit attends training sessions to receive instruction and learn dispatching methods in:

• Handling emergency situations.
• Stress Management/Crisis intervention 
• Computer systems/telephone systems. 
• Telephone answering techniques. 
• Distinguish between calls for service and referrals. 
• Enter calls for service or provide referrals. 
• Map reading and geographics of the City of Sacramento.
• Departmental policy and procedures.
• Civil and criminal law.
• Police codes and priorities and abbreviations.
• City, Departmental and Divisional organization. 
• Other related duties may also be performed; not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual holding this classification.

Knowledge of:

• English grammar, usage, spelling and punctuation.
• Basic effective principles and practices of excellence in customer service.

• The use of computer programs and keyboards.

• Express him/herself in English in a clear, distinct, and understandable manner when speaking to individuals, before diverse populations, various public and community groups, and when testifying in court.
• Lean to effectively communicate with and elicit information from upset and irate citizens.
• Work under pressure and exercise good judgment in emergency situations.
• Exercise independent judgment and work with a minimum of supervision.
• Use a computer and keyboard to enter data provided verbally and in writing. 
• Learn standard broadcasting rules and procedures.
• Learn City street system and physical layout of Sacramento.
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions.
• Value customers and co-works through provision of excellent customer service.

PROOF OF EDUCATION 

Proof of education such as, but not limited to, university/college transcripts and degrees must be submitted to the City of Sacramento Employment Office in person, as an attachment(s) to the online application, faxed to (916) 596-1556, or emailed to employment@cityofsacramento.org by the final filing deadline. If submitting in person or via fax/email, please include your name and Job # 009113-20-4 on your documents. Unofficial documents and/or copies are acceptable.  

An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credentials evaluation service. This evaluation must be submitted by the final filing deadline. 

Please note, the City of Sacramento's preferred method of communication with applicants is via e-mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e-mail frequently, including your spam and junk folders. All e-mail notifications can also be accessed through the governmentjobs.com applicant inbox. 
  

1. Application: (Pass/Fail) – All applicants must complete and submit online a City of Sacramento employment application by the final filing deadline; 

• Employment applications must be submitted online; paper applications will not be accepted.
• Employment applications will be considered incomplete and will be disqualified:
  • If applicants do not list current and past job-related experience in the "Work Experience" section. Note: Qualifying experience is based on 40 hours per week (pro-rated if less than 40 hours/week).
  • If "see resume" is noted in the "Work Experience" section; a resume will not substitute for the information required in the "Work Experience" section.
• Proof of required education must be submitted online with your application, delivered in person, or sent to the Employment Office by fax or mail by the final filing deadline.

2. CRITICALL Test: (Pass/Fail) - Qualified candidates will receive a notification via email when the online examination is available. Candidates will have approximately 7 calendar days from the date of notification to complete the online examination. Only one attempt will be permitted.  The online CritiCall examination test your ability to:

• Follow rules and directions.
• Make decisions quickly and accurately based on rules you are provided.
• Enter data or information (such as names, telephone numbers, license plate sequences, etc.) into a computer using a keyboard.
• Hear, comprehend, summarize, and/or answer questions about information provided verbally in short story form.
• Use written information provided on lists (such as an alphabetically-sequenced telephone book).
• Recognize if bits of information, such as addresses or names, are similar or different.
• Quickly learn and later recognize information that is shown in writing, such as descriptions (e.g., red car, blue boat, green shirt).
• Perform basic arithmetic (such as addition, subtraction, percentages) without a calculator or other tools.
• Hear and remember pieces of information, such as telephone numbers or license plate numbers, for a short period of time.
• Evaluate information provided in order to prioritize or categorize incidents.
• Evaluate information and identify the most correct solution based upon that information.
• Determine routes and/or locations using very basic maps. (No prior map-reading training or experience is required to correctly respond to these questions.)
• Correctly spell commonly-used words which sound alike that might delay emergency assistance if misspelled (e.g., patience instead of patients).
• Communicate using sentences or phrases that clearly express the intended meaning.
• Read and comprehend written passages.

3. ELIGIBLE LIST: Candidates who pass the online CritiCall test will be placed in the Dispatcher Recruit candidate pool for one (1) year with the possibility of the list being extended for an additional year. You are not required to re-apply for this position if you have successfully passed the CritiCall test and your name is in the current Dispatcher Recruit candidate pool.

4. Background Process: If considered for appointment, candidates must pass a background investigation, which includes a criminal history check, fingerprinting, polygraph test, psychological test, credit check, and drug use history.

QUESTIONS 

For questions concerning Drug Use Standards or the Background process:

• Visit the Police Department web site at http://www.sacpd.org/ OR;
• Call the Police Recruiting Office at (916) 808-0880 OR;
• Send an email to police_recruiting@pd.cityofsacramento.org

For questions concerning the Sacramento Police Department's Public Safety Communications Academy:

• Call the Sacramento Police Department's Public Safety Communications Academy at (916) 277-1740. 

For questions concerning this job announcement and the application process: 

• Please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/Home/ApplicationGuide for a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to the application process.  

• For technical support between 6 AM - 5 PM PT, contact Live Application Support at 855-524-5627.  

• Visit the City of Sacramento Human Resources Department website at http://www.cityofsacramento.org/HR/Career-Opportunities;  

• Send an email to employment@cityofsacramento.org;  

• Call the Human Resources Department at (916) 808-5726; or  

• Visit the Human Resources Department at Historic City Hall, 915 I Street, Plaza Level, Sacramento, CA 95814.