Placer County

To act as shift supervisor and participate in the work of the Public Safety Communications Center; to oversee training of dispatchers; and to provide administrative support to supervisory and management staff.

This is the first supervisory level in the Public Safety Dispatcher series and recognizes positions that perform full, first-line supervisory responsibilities, including planning, assigning, and evaluating the work of subordinates. Employees perform the most difficult and responsible types of duties assigned to classes within this series, including the oversight of training new and experienced dispatchers and acting as a shift supervisor; responsibilities may also include supervising staff on more than one shift. Employees at this level are required to be fully trained in all procedures related to their assigned area of responsibility.

This class is distinguished from the Dispatch Services Supervisor in that the supervisory responsibilities are tied to an assigned shift, whereas the latter class is a second-line supervisor with broader responsibilities that may encompass an organizational section or program area within the Dispatch Unit of the Sheriff’s Office.

Receives direct supervision from the Dispatch Services Supervisors and/or management staff, and general supervision from the Watch Commander.

Exercises direct supervision over assigned Public Safety Dispatchers.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Act as shift supervisor, including responsibility for directing the activities of assigned subordinate staff; plan and coordinate dispatch activities for assigned shift; and participate in activities involving the dispatch of routine and emergency law enforcement staff, including the Sheriff's Office, fire, and other municipal and emergency services such as ambulance, tow trucks, and rescue services.
• Oversee and/or provide training for new and existing staff in the operation of 911 communications equipment, the monitoring of specified radio frequencies, and the dispatching of public safety equipment and staff; ensure that all employees are trained to provide pre-arrival medical instructions to individuals prior to rescue and/or ambulance personnel arriving on the scene.
• Ensure that Public Safety Dispatcher II positions assigned Dispatch Training responsibilities generate and maintain complete training records.
• Keep the Watch Commander informed of pertinent incoming information and potential operating problems.
• Maintain dispatch scheduling records and postings; enter all pre-approved time-off requests and ensure that mandatory staffing coverage requirements are met; recommend and/or order appropriate staff coverage in the event of staffing shortages.
• Confer with higher-level staff regarding special instructions and/or changes in procedures; relay information to subordinates.
• Serve as a resource to subordinates on policies and procedures.
• Review radio logs and other documents prepared by dispatchers for accuracy, completeness, and legibility.
• Evaluate the performance of employees supervised on an assigned shift; identify and correct operational procedures and problems to maintain a high level of service to field units.
• May be required to maintain statistical information concerning communication operations.
• Update Computer-Aided (C.A.D.) dispatch files as necessary.
• Perform the dispatch duties as required while supervising a shift.
• Perform routine computer system maintenance; maintain daily back-up tapes for the C.A.D. system; assist staff in all other data-base management activities.
• Provide communications training in the absence of available staff ordinarily assigned to Dispatch Training duties.
• May provide vacation and other temporary relief for supervisors as required.
• Prepare requisitions for supplies and other materials.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Experience:  Three (3) years of experience as a Public Safety Dispatcher, one (1) year of which must be in a class comparable to Public Safety Dispatcher II with Placer County.

Training:  Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade. 

• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.
• Successful completion of the Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) certified Basic Dispatcher course or equivalent.
• Successful completion of the P.O.S.T. certified Emergency Medical Dispatch course.
• Possession of a valid CPR certificate at the time of appointment.

Knowledge of:

• Automated systems pertaining to communication/dispatch operations, including C.A.D., California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (C.L.E.T.S.), and other internal computer systems.
• Various jurisdictions to which 911 communication is responsible.
• Principles of training and teaching techniques in an emergency dispatch environment.
• Organization, operations, and terminology of police, fire, or other public safety agencies.
• Appropriate Emergency Medical Dispatch procedures.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws and codes.
• Geography of the County and location of streets and important buildings.
• Departmental established rules and procedures.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and computer equipment.

Ability to:

• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; collect, read, understand, analyze, interpret, recall, and explain information received from a variety of sources including, policies procedures, rules, work papers, and regulations; Identify different voices and sounds on the radio and telephone; actively listen, understand, extract, and interpret radio codes correctly and translate information to the public and law enforcement staff in emergency and non-emergency situations; obtain information and accurately recall places, names, descriptive characteristics, and facts of incidents; memorize codes, names, locations, and other detailed information; refer to multiple computer screens for messages and other relevant information; read maps quickly and accurately; receive information from the public and problem solve the situation; manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously and quickly switch between tasks; focus on a single task for long periods of time; work with frequent interruptions; work under time pressure; complete a high volume of tasks; quickly and accurately receive and process auditory information in an environment with frequent interruptions and multiple competing audio sources, such as telephones ringing, multiple frequency radio traffic, and general conversation; and decipher and differentiate various verbal and non-verbal auditory sounds and cues at varying intensities. 
• On a continuous basis, sit at a desk or console for long periods of time. Intermittently, walk, stand, bend, twist, squat, and reach to access office equipment, or to obtain materials from printer or other locations within the dispatch center; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; speak, use a telephone, write and use a keyboard to communicate; see and hear with sufficient acuity to perform essential job functions; lift light weight.
• Act as shift supervisor and in emergency situations direct an appropriate course of action by operating radio and 911 communications equipment to dispatch public safety equipment and personnel.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate assigned staff on shift.
• Plan and coordinate dispatch activities for a designated shift.
• Evaluate the specific training needs of staff; plan, organize, and conduct emergency dispatch training programs.
• Implement operational policies and procedures effectively.
• Maintain an efficient, calm demeanor in handling adverse or emergency situations; act quickly and calmly and direct other staff to do the same.
• Operate all equipment associated with the dispatch function including, 911 (basic and advanced), telephone, and radio.
• Understand C.A.D. data files.
• Maintain accurate and complete records.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and efficient manner.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Follow and train others to follow safe work practices, including workplace safety policies and procedures.