Public Safety Dispatcher I

About the Department

The City of Berkeley invites you to apply for the position of Public Safety Dispatcher I in the Police Department! In this role, you will have the opportunity to receive 911 system emergency and non-emergency calls, operate various dispatch center equipment including computer terminals, and maintains records.

The Public Safety Dispatcher I is the entry-level class in the professional public safety dispatching series. Under close supervision, incumbents are trained in providing technical communications support and computer information processing for police, fire, animal control, parking enforcement, and public works functions in a limited capacity, in addition to call screening and record-keeping and information retrieval in support of public safety activities. 

Public Safety Dispatcher I incumbents gain knowledge and experience through on-the-job training and have the opportunity to demonstrate proficiency to promote to Public Safety Dispatcher II upon successful completion of the Public Safety Dispatcher Training Program and probation.

See the full job description here:
 

Position Duties

A typical way of gaining the knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position is:
 
EDUCATION
Equivalent to graduation from high school.
 
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
 
Must be able to pass a medical and psychiatric evaluation. Must be willing to work evening, night, weekend, and holiday shifts.
 
Must be able to travel to various locations within and outside the City of Berkeley to meet program needs and to fulfill the job responsibilities. When driving on City business, the incumbent is required to maintain a valid California driver's license as well as a satisfactory driving record.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must submit:

• Completed application (Please note that resumes are not a substitute for a completed application.)
• Responses to the supplemental questionnaire

Applications are available in alternative formats (audio-format, braille, large print, electronic text, etc.) upon request to . Please allow 10 days for production of the material in an alternative format.

Other Qualifications

The exam process will include, but may not be limited to:

• Application review for minimum qualifications and required documents (qualifying experience will be calculated based on the administrative review date)
• Written Exam: CritiCall test - Modules will include decision making, cross referencing, data entry, keyboarding, call summarization, map reading memory recall position locating, prioritization, sentence clarity, spelling, and knowledge, skills, and abilities as outlined in the job class specification.

Applications will be reviewed periodically, and candidates will be sent a link to the CritiCall test administered by the City of Berkeley. The City does not accept and nor we will not consider any CritiCall scores from other jurisdictions.

We no longer accept POST Dispatcher test scores. 

Tests may consist of any combination of written, oral or other exercises or assessment procedures that test content and may include, but are not necessarily limited to, typing, math, reading, writing and analytical skills; problem solving ability; computer and software proficiency, or any other job-related knowledge, skill, ability or qualification. The examination process and dates are subject to change. The City may, without notice, change or eliminate any assessment component as needs dictate. Applicants passing all examination phases will have their names placed on an employment eligible list that hiring departments will use to conduct final selection interviews.

Reasonable Accommodations: The City is committed to making reasonable accommodations in the examination process and in the work environment. Individuals requesting reasonable accommodations in the examination process must submit a request in writing to at the time of application.