POLICE DISPATCHER / CALL RECEIVER

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The new Division of Campus Community Safety (DCCS) unifies front-line public safety units across the University for a holistic approach to campus community safety, innovation in approaches, and clarity in leadership responsibility and accountability. Key units include UW Emergency Management, SafeCampus and the UW Police Department Seattle campus. Division staff work daily in partnership with units across and outside the UW system to both create safer, welcoming campus environments; prepare for potential natural or human-made disasters; and respond appropriately to incidents.

Safeguarding the academic community with P.R.I.D.E.

The University of Washington Police Department (UWPD) has the exclusive responsibility to act upon law-enforcement matters and perform police functions for the Seattle Campus of the University of Washington, 24 hours a day.  Police Officers at the UWPD respond to public calls for service within a very diverse community, providing community-oriented law enforcement services to the campus and nearby areas, enforcing state laws, city ordinances, and University regulations. Police Officers conduct criminal and traffic investigations, make arrests, prepare necessary documentation and testify in court. Officers also provide for the safety and security of persons and property at University events and attend community meetings. Watch our UW Police video to meet us and see what it is like to work on the Seattle campus.

DCCS has an outstanding opportunity for Police Dispatcher/Call Receiver. The Police Dispatcher/Call Receiver performs specialized and varied work in the Police Department Communications Center to include receiving and transmitting law enforcement and related public safety information. This position is responsible for answering department telephones including emergency 911 telephone calls, determining the nature of the caller’s business and dispatching police mobile units, or referring the call to the appropriate resource; prioritizing and routing emergency calls to fire, police and emergency medical services. There is often a high volume of calls, many of which involve accidents or crimes in progress. The Dispatcher will operate radio dispatching equipment, various computer systems, and associated recording equipment.  Additionally, Police Dispatcher/Call Receivers compile information and write and generate accurate reports.

The department strongly subscribes and operates under the tenants of community-oriented policing and service. The Communications Center operates 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Competitive candidates will possess demonstrated experience in thinking clearly and acting quickly and making correct decisions, taking charge of conversations, obtaining accurate information from callers, entering information into a computer while talking and making sound and quick decisions.  Inherent to success in this position is excellent organizational skills to include multitasking while coping with numerous interruptions and remaining calm and professional in emergency situations.

This is an opportunity to join a team who is committed to the highest standards of professionalism and service and to work in an environment that is focused on on-going employee development.

UWPD is very proud to be the only police agency in Washington that has achieved triple accreditation, CALEA, IACLEA, and WASPC.

Requirements include:

• High school graduation or equivalent AND two years of experience to include dispatching responsibilities and/or completion of an accredited dispatcher program.

OR equivalent education/experience may be substituted for MQ except when there are legal requirements such as licenses/certification/registration.

Additional Requirements include:Ability to work nights

• Strong customer service skills

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

Desired:

• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communications skills to include demonstrated ability to clearly and concisely speak English and understand English
• Computer experience
• Accurate keyboarding skills
• Demonstrated ability to accurately hear and simultaneously document verbal information
• Proven ability to exhibit patience and remain calm and professional while questioning callers for whom English may be an additional language, callers who may be verbally abusive, emotionally upset, uncooperative or frightened
• Ability to work in a high-pressured, high security environment
• Ability to take direction, work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to work in a confined area, primarily seated in an office setting for extended periods of time with no outside visibility.
• Must believe in teamwork and have strong commitment to excellence and continued improvement
• Police dispatch experience
• Experience with emergency 911 calls
• CAD/RMS experience
• Current WSCJTC T1/T2, ACCESS certifications or out of state POST certification
• Fluency in other languages (such as Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Russian)

Conditions of Employment:

• Employees must be willing to work any shift or workweek, including mandatory overtime and holidays, as assigned.
• Work is performed primarily seated in an office setting with no outside visibility.
• Finalists will be required to complete a minimum of two hours of observation in the University of Washington Communication Center. This should be scheduled before taking the polygraph examination or psychological evaluation.
• No felony convictions and no pattern of misdemeanor convictions that could compromise access to confidential records.
• Employment is contingent upon successful completion of comprehensive backgrounds investigation, polygraph, and psychological examinations.
• This position is located at UW Police Department in a state-of-the-art building on 15th Ave NE.  Must be comfortable working in a police station environment.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS

Application Deadline: see above

Testing: Must be completed by the application deadline to be considered for the initial review
Oral Boards: TBD

Reapplication is permitted at any time, except for candidates disqualified for reasons of prior felony convictions or non-correctable selection.

Please note: It may take 2 to 4 months to successfully complete all phases of the selection process from Oral Boards to Official Offer of Employment.

Be sure to check back periodically for updated recruitment information.

Apply on-line by the application deadline noted. A complete application includes:
• Copying/pasting an updated resume into your candidate profile
• Completing the US Work Authorization Assessment.

Part of the application process for this position includes completing the US Work Authorization Assessment and other Assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  The assessment will appear on your screen for you to complete as soon as you select "Apply to this Position" on this job announcement. Once you begin the assessment, it must be completed at that time. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until the assessment is complete.

All information submitted will be considered to determine the applicant's qualifications for this position. Please ensure that your current email address is listed in your online candidate profile as well as in your resume. A Personal History Statement may be emailed to you early for completion.  A completed Personal History Statement will be required for those who progress to the Background Investigation Process.  Detailed information requested includes:
• Addresses of all residences;
• Personal and Professional References;
• Names and addresses of family members;
• Arrests and criminal history;
• Traffic driving record;
• Military service;
• Employment history;
• Drug use;
• Education history;
• Memberships in professional organizations;
• Financial information;
• Copies of the following documents:
-High school diploma/GED certificate;
-Social Security card;
-Driver’s License;
-Birth Certificate (Certified copy)
• Any other documents, certificates, resumes, performance evaluation reports, etc., which show your abilities and training for the position

Testing [APPLICANTS WILL BE ASSESSED A FEE FOR TESTING]:
The Dispatcher Exam is administered through Public Safety Testing.   Results are provided to the University of Washington Police Department for decision-making. You must select University of Washington Police Department as an agency for us to access your required testing scores.

Please note: You must successfully complete the PST Typing Test before your Dispatch Written Exam date. Failure to do so may result in a failure of the test.

What to expect at the Public Safety Testing website:

• Flexibility to schedule your test time.  Tests are conducted multiple times a week, including Saturdays and offered at multiple locations
• Information on completing the required typing test
• Detailed information on how to create a testing account
• Written Exam Requirements
• PST Policies for test day
• Test-Date-Location Information (Test & Event Calendar)
• Fee structure for agency selections
• Out of state testing information

The test will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis, however, scores are important.  Scores will be automatically forwarded to the University of Washington Police Department for further decision making.  Those who attain passing scores may be invited to participate in other stages of the Department’s selection process.   

Oral Boards
Applicants who pass the testing phase may be invited to participate in Oral Boards (structured panel interview).

Observation (to be scheduled)
A minimum four-hour observation session at the UWPD Communications Center will be required of final candidates.  Candidates will be contacted directly for scheduling.

Additional selection steps include a polygraph, background investigation and psychological evaluation.

Application Process:

The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment, you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.