Emergency Dispatcher Overview
The Weld County Regional Communications Center, commonly known as the Dispatch Center, responds to 40+ agencies including police and fire departments and two ambulance services. The Dispatcher receives emergency and non-emergency telephone calls; dispatches appropriate law enforcement agencies and emergency services; monitors progress of en route units and provides support to responding units until completion of the call; enters calls into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system via keyboard device; monitors alarm boards and retrieves information from the national and state crime computers.
The starting hourly salary for a Dispatcher is $16.69 per hour and employees are eligible for a wide range of benefits including health dental, vision, and life insurance, 401k program, paid vacations, holiday and sick leave.
New dispatchers are given extensive training that may last eight to nine months or longer. During this time period, dispatchers will spend approximately 4-6 weeks in each phase of training. This means that during the training period, a new dispatcher’s schedule (hours and work days) may change every 6-10 weeks so during this time you need to be available to work any shift and any day.
The Dispatcher Center's web page has more information on the Dispatch Center, including services provided, agencies served, and call-center statistics.
To Apply:
It iIt The Greeley Police Department is not currently accepting applications. Watch this page for updates concerning applications and future testing dates. 
The
When applications are being accepted the application form is available in several ways:
• City of Greeley Application Form in MS Word - You can download the application and fill it out on your computer IF you have MS Word. If you do not have Word, please use the Acrobat form.
• City of Greeley Application form in Adobe Acrobat - Use this if you are going to print the application but complete it by hand.
•Pick up an application in person at City Hall, 1000 10 Street
Working as a Dispatcher
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It is our desire to hire people for the position of Dispatcher who are not only qualified, but know what they’re getting into before they start. Therefore, we’ve provided this short page of information to help you decide if this is a job that will fit with your desires, goals, and personality.
The people who call the 911 communications center are not usually happy people. They call because they have a problem and Dispatchers are their first contact. Dispatchers must have the ability to handle more than one task at a time and operate efficiently in critical and stressful situations. They must stay calm and be able to communicate with callers, police, fire and ambulance crews, and other dispatchers in a team atmosphere in both emergency and non-emergency situations.
N
ew dispatchers are given extensive training that may last six to eight months or longer. During this time period, dispatchers will spend approximately 4-6 weeks in each phase of training. This means that during the training period, a new dispatcher’s schedule (hours and work days) may change every 6-10 weeks.
After training is complete, the dispatcher will be assigned to a vacant shift - probably working night shift at the end of the week. Dispatchers work seven, 12-hour shifts in each two week period; The first week employees work 3 days and then work 4 days the next week.
There are four shift options,
Day shift (7:00a.m. - 7:00 p.m.) working the beginning of the week
Day shift (7:00a.m. - 7:00 p.m.) working the end of the week
Night shift (7:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m.) working the beginning of the week
Night shift (7:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m.) working the end of the week
In December of each year the entire staff of the Dispatch center bids for their shift for the coming year based upon seniority.
The selection process
The selection process consists of many steps, beginning with a computer based skills test. The test will take approximately 1.5 – 2 hours and consists of several components that test for spelling, map reading, memorization, reasoning skills, typing speed, multitasking, and several listening skills exercises. (Please read the Test Rules for CritiCall Testing at the end of this document.)
The The test is scored immediately and results are provided to applicants upon completion. Those receiving passing scores will move on in the hiring process, which includes a 2-hour observation in the dispatch center and a formal interview.
Part A - The two-hour observation with a dispatcher in the Communications Center gives you the opportunity to observe the position first-hand and ask questions of a trained dispatcher prior to the formal interview.
Part B - Formal interview. At the interview you will be asked questions like:
ØWhy did you apply?
ØWhat characteristics do you have that will make you a good dispatcher?
ØWhat kinds of things are stressful for you and how do you deal with stress?
Think about these things before you arrive.
After the interviews, the top candidates will continue in the process which includes:
:
ØComplete Background Investigation. Personal History Statements are completed by applicants after passing the skills test. Those who pass through the formal interview will have their Personal History Statements given to an officer of the Greeley Police Department for a complete background investigation. This process can take 4-6 weeks. You will be asked information related to criminal convictions, reasons for leaving prior positions, recent drug usage, etc., as well as a complete job history and list of former addresses.
ØThe successful candidate is then given a conditional job offer, at which time he/she is asked to submit to a drug test and a polygraph (lie detector) test.
It is easy to see that the hiring process can take a couple months. Don’t be discouraged, but if you cannot wait that long to get a job, let us know. The best way to know if this is the right job for you is to spend a few hours observing in the dispatch center so you can see the work environment and know what it’s really like. To schedule a time call a Dispatch Supervisor at 350-9600. If you have any questions about the process, please feel free to contact Human Resources at 970-350-9710.
Requirements:
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE/SKILLS:
Ø Previous experience dispatching for police, fire or ambulance services desirable;
Ø 1-3 years customer service experience required;
Ø Familiarity with windows computer programs with a minimum typing speed of 35 wpm;
Ø Familiarity with computer systems and data entry desired;
Ø Spanish/English bilingual verbal skills highly desired.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS - Must have ability to:
Ø Perform multiple tasks in a high-stress environment;
Ø Use independent judgment and make good decisions quickly;
Ø Communicate effectively both orally and in writing, using tact and diplomacy;
Ø Record information accurately;
Ø Follow verbal and written instructions;
Ø Enter information into a keyboard device and access information from a computer;
Ø Interpret maps, drawing and schematics;
Ø Work under extremely stressful conditions;
Ø Accurately convey information received by radios and phones;
Ø Interact with the public in situations involving possible personal trauma.
Ø Remain awake and alert throughout any 10+ hour shift.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
Ø Must remain at fixed work station for extended periods of time;
Ø Required to work weekends, holidays, day, swing and/or late shifts with hours and days off subject to change;
Ø Fluctuating workload - heavy volume of calls to minimal demands within a short time frame and occurring continuously;
Ø Enclosed environment with multi-dispatch stations requiring close communication with co-workers and limited privacy.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ø Hearing and speech enough to communicate clearly and distinctly face-to-face as well as over the dispatching system in both emergency and non-emergency situations;
Ø Manual dexterity enough to operate keyboard devices requiring repetitive arm/hand movements;
Ø Vision enough to perform functions such as proofread information entered into a computer to determine accuracy and need for correction; to read reports and relay information to requesting party.
CritiCall - the computer-based test:
CritiCall is the name of the computer based testing used as the first step in the selection process. You must have good computer skills, a good memory, and the ability to think quickly. Components of the test will be based upon the "rules" provided below. Please read them prior to testing" If you prefer, you can download the test rules .
Test Rules for CritiCall testing.
One of the important abilities needed by a public safety communications employee is the ability to make decisions based upon structured rules. To test your ability to make decisions during the computerized test, you will be asked to quickly and accurately indicate which type of agency (i.e., Police, Fire, Emergency Medical Service, or Public Utility Company) should be dispatched to the scene of an incident according to the rules listed below.
You should read and learn these rules before taking the test. Experience has shown that the better an applicant knows these rules, the better they will do during the decision making portions of the test. It should be noted that these rules were developed specifically for the CritiCall test and do not reflect the official policy of this or any other public safety agency. You should not rely on your prior knowledge about either this agency or any other agency when making your decisions. Use ONLY the attached decision rules to make your decisions during the test.
Examples
Based upon the attached rules, if you were given the scenario of,
· “Man throwing rocks in an attempt to hurt children walking nearby,” you should select POLICE as the correct response since the man was attempting to physically harm another person.
· “Electrical power lines knocked down during a severe hail storm,” you should select UTILITY as the correct response because there is a problem with broken or malfunctioning electrical power lines.
· “Child cuts hand on sharp knife,” you should select EMS as the correct response because this is an emergency medical condition requiring intervention by medically trained personnel.
· “Smoke seen coming out of day-care school’s windows,” you should select FIRE as the correct response because there are the immediate signs of a fire in progress, such as flames or smoke.
Rules to be used for responding to scenarios during the CritiCall™ Personnel Selection Software Test
Police
Police Department should be dispatched when someone is attempting or threatening to physically harm another
person, or has actually physically harmed another person, or when a person causes or is in the process of causing harm to another person's property.
Fire
Fire Department should be dispatched when there are the immediate signs of a fire in progress (such as flames or
smoke), when a fire alarm is sounded, or when a person who is trapped or confined needs to be rescued or released.
EMS
Emergency Medical Service should be dispatched when there is an emergency medical condition requiring intervention by medically trained personnel.
Utility
Public Utility should be dispatched when there is a problem associated with malfunctioning or broken public water
systems, electric power systems (including, but not limited to, electrical power lines, streetlights, and traffic signals), natural gas systems used for home heating, or blocked sewer drainpipes.