About UCPD > Careers > Public Safety Dispatcher
Now accepting applications for:
Public Safety Dispatcher
Dispatcher candidates: updated 5/2/2011 No longer accepting applications. Reference job requisition #12120 at http://jobs.berkeley.edu. We will hold a mandatory written / skill test on the UC Berkeley campus (specific location TBA).
The Position
Public Safety Dispatchers (PSD) are responsible for maintaining communications between the Police Department and the public, as well as between officers in the field and other public safety employees and agencies. Public Safety Dispatchers wear a police-style uniform and work under the general direction of, and report directly to, a PSD Supervisor. PSDs operate the UCPD communications center, which is a fully computerized environment and a 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). PSDs are required to multi-task and prioritize according to department need in a manner consistent with law, regulations, department policies and standard procedures.
Public Safety Dispatchers assign and coordinate personnel and resources in response to emergency situations, in-progress crimes and other calls for service. PSDs operate the police radio, Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, telephones and other various law enforcement telecommunications and computer systems. They monitor campus alarm systems, security cameras and provide customer service via telephone and at the department’s main public counter after business hours. Public Safety Dispatchers work evening, night and weekend shifts, with some mandatory and volunteer overtime assignments available. Occasional duties include general administrative functions such as data entry, filing and record-keeping, assistance with booking prisoners, processing warrants, and other assigned duties based on the needs of the department.
Requirements
Candidates for the position of Public Safety Dispatcher must:
- Be at least 18 years of age at the time of appointment;
- Possess a valid California Driver License;
- Have earned a valid high school diploma or the equivalent;
- Have the legal right to work in the United States on a permanent basis;
- Have no felony convictions;
- Meet all other requirements for public safety dispatcher as established by law and the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) including hearing, vision and other physical/medical standards.
Preferred qualifications include:
- An Associates degree or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience;
- Excellent verbal and written skills and the demonstrated ability to interact with a diverse community;
- Prior experience as a Public Safety Dispatcher;
- Ability to use vehicles, computer systems and other technologies and tools employed by police agencies;
- Understanding of modern policing issues, philosophies, practices and trends as applied within the University environment.
Salary Range
As of October 2009 the salary range for Public Safety Dispatcher is $47,256 - $70,776 per year.
The department also provides an annual $500 uniform allowance after a full year of employment.
Lateral dispatchers may be assigned within the salary range based on prior experience.
The University of California Regents have approved a plan to enact system wide furloughs and other cost reduction measures due to the state budget crisis. This position may be subject to any cost cutting measures implemented at UC Berkeley.
Benefits
Public Safety Dispatchers generally work a 4/10 plan (four days a week, ten hours per day). There are also overtime opportunities including extra staffing for intercollegiate sporting events and other special events.
Dispatchers accrue approximately ten hours of vacation per month. The vacation accrual rate increases to 12 hours per month at 10 years of service, 14 hours per month at 15 years, and 16 hours per month at 20 years.
The University designates 13 holidays per year and provides extra pay or leave in compensation. Dispatchers earn up to eight hours of sick leave each month, with no accrual limit. Upon retirement, unused sick leave may be converted to additional service credit.
Public Safety Dispatchers are members of the University of California Retirement System (UCRS). Unlike many agencies, this plan is fully paid by the University – employees are presently not required to contribute from their salary. After vestment with a minimum of five years of University service, employees may retire with a pension based on the number of years of service, age at retirement and the average of the highest three years of salary, up to a maximum of 100%. For example:
At age 55: 25 years of service x 1.8% = 45% of salary
At age 60: 30 years of service x 2.5% = 75% of salary
At age 65: 35 years of service x 2.5% = 87.5% of salary
In addition to the retirement plan, PSDs may elect to participate in a tax-deferred 403(b) savings plan, a 457(b) deferred compensation plan, and a voluntary after-tax defined contribution (DC) plan. The University also offers a pre-tax health care reimbursement account (HCRA) and a pre-tax dependent care reimbursement account (DepCare)
Other University benefits include a competitive selection of medical, vision, dental, disability, accidental death & dismemberment, legal insurance and other insurance plans, including many with premiums partially or fully paid by the University.
University employees are eligible for tuition fee reduction at the University of California, presently amounting to approximately a 2/3 discount.
Please refer to the University of California Human Resources and Benefits web page for details about the retirement plan and other benefits: http://atyourservice.ucop.edu
How To Apply
The only way to apply is online at http://jobs.berkeley.edu. You must have a valid e-mail account. Once your application is submitted, we will contact you via e-mail or telephone when we begin our selection process.
NOTE: Some e-mail programs may use filters which might block our correspondence. Please check your e-mail settings, and watch for e-mail from “UCPD.”
Selection Process
Our process begins with a written/skills examination. We employ a standardized test that is carefully constructed to measure your abilities on the basis of job-related criteria, and it requires no prior police experience or training (Refer to the POST Public Safety Dispatcher Selection Standards).
A screening committee will review the candidates who complete the test. Generally, we establish a passing score that is higher than most other departments. The committee is also responsible for objective evaluation of each application based on job-related education, experience, and characteristics that have been shown to be desirable for successful UCPD Public Safety Dispatchers.
A limited number of candidates will be invited to an oral interview, conducted by a panel that consists of a cross-section of members of the Police Department. The panel will ask a series of questions designed to evaluate the candidate’s ability to communicate effectively, to exercise good judgment, and to display other relevant talents and skills.
Top-rated candidates from the oral interview are subject to an extensive background investigation, as required by California POST regulations. All relevant aspects of the candidate’s suitability will be examined, based on the POST standard job dimensions for the position of public safety dispatcher. Candidates who are discovered to have been deceptive or who do not otherwise meet standards (including dependability, integrity, judgment under pressure and interpersonal sensitivity) will not be advanced.
Candidates who successfully complete the background investigation will be considered for interview by the Chief of Police. The Chief of Police then decides whether or not to offer employment to the candidate. Any such job offer is conditional upon the satisfactory outcome of a medical examination, drug testing and psychological screening.
More Information
If you would like more information about our department, please contact Administrative Sergeant Lee Harris by phone at (510) 642-1157 or via e-mail at l_harris@berkeley.edu.
