Police Dispatcher Job Description
 Process Information 
Job Description Summary
 Duties and Responsibilities
 Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Minimum Qualifications
Special Requirements
 Dispatcher Job Interest Form

Job Description Summary:

The Police Dispatcher position is skilled emergency service work that involves receiving emergency 911 and non-emergency requests for police assistance, determining nature/urgency of calls, initiating police or other emergency personnel action and maintaining close contact with field units to monitor response and needed support requirements.

It requires a considerable degree of initiative and independent judgment within procedural boundaries in responding to emotional, disturbed and sometimes abusive people in a variety of situations. Work may be done separately or in conjunction with other dispatchers and dispatchers may assist in training, teaching and basic operational equipment management.

The Police Dispatcher position requires rotating shift assignments and overtime in accordance with maintaining a fully operational 24 hour facility. 

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Duties/Responsibilities:

  • Receives and responds to emergency and non-emergency calls including enhanced 911, and non-emergency calls from the public, dispatchers, and law enforcement agencies via telephone and radio systems and computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems;

  • Processes and evaluates information received, prioritizes calls and dispatches required units and/or agencies;

  • Monitors and coordinates police unit activity and assignments via police radio frequencies;

  • Maintains status and locations of public safety personnel;

  • Utilizes technology such as computers, radio systems, telephones, fax machines and other communication equipment;

  • Creates and maintains automated or manual logs of public safety communications activity;

  • Accesses and enters sensitive data in local/state/national databases as necessary for investigative purposes;

  • Enters and maintains files for persons or property pending apprehension/recovery;

  • Maintains appropriate security and confidentiality of information created or encountered in the performance of assigned duties;

  • Keeps informed of departmental regulations, policies and procedures;

  • May assist in providing on-the-job training for Police Dispatchers and submit progress reports and evaluations on trainees.

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 Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

  • Knowledge of public service activity and methods of local government;

  • Knowledge of computer technology and equipment;

  • Knowledge of law enforcement terminology and procedures;

  • Knowledge of geography for the Town of Oro Valley and surrounding areas;

  • Knowledge of English language for spelling and proper word usage;

  • Skill in multi-tasking- coordinating simultaneous mental, manual and visual activities;

  • Skill in observing situations analytically and objectively and relaying details accurately;

  • Skill in communicating using two-way radio and telephone equipment;

  • Skill in operating a variety of communications equipment effectively;

  • Skill in reading and interpreting maps to determine locations and jurisdictional boundaries;

  • Ability to speak clearly and concisely;

  • Ability to think clearly and act quickly in emergencies;

  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with Police Department personnel, other Town employees, outside law enforcement agencies and the public;

  • Ability to meet attendance schedule with dependability and consistency.

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Minimum Qualifications:

  • High School Diploma or G.E.D.

  • At least 18 years of age

  • United States Citizen

  • No felony conviction or conviction of an offense that would be a felony if committed in Arizona

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Special Requirements:

This position requires attaining and maintaining certifications for access into local, state and national criminal history databases and associated tele-communications systems, and the possession of a valid Arizona Driver’s License.

This position requires the satisfactory completion of a personal background investigation by law enforcement and the ability to meet minimum P.O.S.T. qualifications regarding police employment.

This job description is intended to indicate the basic nature of the position allocated to this class and examples of typical duties that may be assigned. It does not imply that all positions within this class will perform all the duties listed, nor does it attempt to list all possible duties that may be assigned.

 This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.  

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