Dispatch Technician

Job Summary

To provide dispatch and communications operations for the Racine County Communications Department (Joint Dispatch).

Key Responsibilities

• Answer the emergency/non-emergency telephone in the Communications Department, and supply information to inquirers within established guidelines.
• Take requests for service from callers; gather such information as names, addresses, telephone numbers, nature and type of problem or complaint; and enter events into the computer aided dispatch system.
• Operate a multi-channel radio system and transmit messages to law enforcement vehicles, Fire and Rescue departments and other agencies concerning calls for service
• Receive incoming radio transmissions; record officer initiated events; and act on requests for service and information received by radio.
• Prioritize calls for service and dispatch the appropriate number of law enforcement, fire, or EMS resources to emergency events.
• Operate computer terminals; place inquiries concerning people, vehicles, and stolen property; and enter or retrieve information into or from the central crime records system.
• Maintain a record of all calls for service received by the Communications Department.
• Operate the radio controlled paging system for various departments.
• Retain trusted and confidential information.
• Perform communications activities during special operations events at remote locations.
• Work overtime hours during situations deemed by the Communications Department Director as an emergency.

Supervision Received
Receives supervision from the Communications Department Dispatch Supervisor.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED equivalent
• Two (2) years of responsible post high school work experience. (Post high school education may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the work experience requirement.)
• Passing score on CritiCall Dispatcher/Calltaker Pre-employment test.
• Prompt and regular attendance.
• Or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience, which provides the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Experience dispatching vehicles by radio preferred.
• Ability to react calmly in emergency situations.
• Ability to work any shift assigned to cover a 24 hour, 7 day per week operation including weekends, holidays, and overtime hours.
• Ability to enunciate and speak clearly over the telephone and the radio.
• Ability to hear (no loss of hearing in normal voice range to include higher/lower pitched sound without hearing assist for both ears) and understand radio, telephone and verbal communications.
• Vision correctable to 20/20.
• Ability to follow a set of pre-determined instructions covering a variety of situations.
• Ability to mentally retain information on a short and long term basis including geographical location of patrol vehicles and their current status.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective public and working relationships.
• Ability to maintain accurate and detailed records.
• Knowledge of basic computer operations and data entry retrieval.

This description has been prepared to assist in properly evaluating various classes of responsibilities, skills, working conditions, etc., present in the classification. It is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and characteristic levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions that will be given this title. It is not intended as a complete list of specific duties and responsibilities. Nor is it intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind and level of difficulty.