Full-Time Police Dispatcher

Salary: $24.43 - $26.42 Hourly
Location : Stoughton, WI
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 310
Department: Police Department
Opening Date: 11/30/2023
SUMMARY OF JOB
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill
As a City of Stoughton Dispatcher, you will have daily opportunities to serve and make a difference in people's lives. Our dispatchers staff our Police Department and Non-Emergency phone line 24/7. We are seeking applicants who are customer service oriented, have the ability to multi-task, and can be relied upon to gather important details from our citizens, who call our department in a time of need. Stoughton is a rapidly growing suburb of Madison and Janesville, WI, but still has a small-town feel. As our city grows, so does our Police Department. We are recruiting for a current vacancy. As a progressive agency, we are interested in candidates from any and all backgrounds: no previous dispatch or law enforcement experience is required.
The purpose of the position is to ensure prompt and accurate dispatching of the proper Police, Fire and/or medical emergency units to locations requiring emergency or non-emergency service by obtaining, processing, and coordinating the service requests through the operation of a two-way radio and telephone system. Responds to non-emergency and informational inquiries as required. Completes clerical tasks as required.
This position will require working days, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
The City offers an excellent benefits package including, but not limited to, Wisconsin Retirement, medical, dental, life insurance, vacation time is awarded at the date of hire, and we also provide membership to Anytime Fitness at no cost to you!
If you are interested in working in an excellent working environment with a team of experienced professionals, this position may be for you!
The position is also eligible for a hiring bonus upon completion of the probationary period!
This position will remain open until filled.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Receives complaints/reports of incidents, accidents in - person, by telephone and via computer through CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch). Obtains the necessary information to safely and accurately dispatch police and additional assistance as needed. Prioritizes service requests based upon the nature of the request and staff available.
• Operates two way radios to dispatch calls to patrol units. Receives and communicates information, keeping track of officers' locations and duties being performed by each unit.
• Operate the Wisconsin Department of Justice Computer System. This includes running queries on persons, vehicles or property and providing the information to units upon request. Makes entries into CIB (Crime Information Bureau) and NCIC (National Crime Information Center) files on persons, vehicles and property.
• Maintains an accurate computerized log through the department's CAD system. Enters data as provided by units.
• Updates incidents in the records management system, connecting pertinent personnel, vehicles, and property as needed. Updates contacts.
• Monitors other radio frequencies including local utilities, streets, public works, and the school system as well as other law enforcement agencies.
• Answers Utilities after-hour calls for emergencies, such as power outages and water main breaks, and contacts on-call workers for those departments as needed.
• Handles walk-in customers for various payments such as fines, parking tickets and bail. Provides receipts and updates the records as needed.
• Issues vehicle license plates and renews registrations on vehicles using a third-party vendor, such as Dealer Track, and issuing the necessary receipts and paperwork.
• Issues bicycle licenses and parking permits.
• Performs a variety of clerical tasks including but not limited to the following: Transcribes officer's reports, correspondence, memos, and parking ticket notifications, as well as files and retrieves reports as needed. Photocopies reports and other documents.
• Prepares reports to be submitted for charges, including the intake, running, and printing of the necessary information to accompany the report to the District Attorney's office. Print and attach the necessary paperwork to citations for municipal court.
• Monitors the fax machine for incoming requests and processing them as they arrive. This includes requests for background checks from other agencies, requests for accident reports, as well as requests for copies of reports to other law enforcement agencies.
• Monitors cameras located at various locations throughout the building.
• Ensures compliance with the Federal Communications Commission regulations for proper operation and use of radio transmitters.
• Logs equipment failures and ensures that the proper person(s) are contacted for timely repairs.
• Operates copy machine, scanners and printers.
• Assists with the training of new dispatchers as well as other departmental personnel.
• Dispatchers will be assigned to each of three daily shifts; shift assignments may vary and days off will rotate.

QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Minimum of two years clerical experience working with the public or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Word processing experience required. Previous related experience preferred.
• Must be able to type 35 WPM measured by a net score on a standard typing test.
• Prior Dispatching and CAD experience preferred.
• TIME certification is preferred.
• No felony convictions.
• Ability to multitask.
• Must sucessfully complete background check, psychological evaluation, and drug test.

JOB KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication

• Ability to compare, count, differentiate, measure and/or sort data, as well as assemble, copy, record and transcribe data and information. Ability to classify, compute and tabulate data.
• Ability to advise and provide interpretation to others how to apply policies, procedures and standards to specific situations.
• Ability to utilize a variety of advisory data and information such as traffic citations, warrant information, driver license and motor vehicle registration information, incident and accident reports, schedules, lists IBR (Incident Based Reporting) reports, logs, training forms, communications equipment manuals, computer software operating manuals and updates, TIME manual, State Statues, municipal and county ordinances, maps, directories, procedures, guidelines and non-routine correspondence.
• Ability to communicate effectively with police officers, attorneys, school officials, probation and parole personnel, utility personnel, street department personnel, insurance company representatives and the general public.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, and calculate percentages, fractions and decimals.
• Ability to use functional reasoning and apply rational judgment in performing diversified work activities.
• Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness, and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory and/or judgmental criteria.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to operate equipment and machinery requiring simple but continuous adjustments, such as computer keyboards, two-way radio, telephone, and other office equipment.
• Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet, and limbs in performing skilled movements, such as rapid keyboard use.
• Ability to exert moderate physical effort in sedentary to light work, typically involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling.
• Ability to recognize and identify degrees of similarities or differences between characteristics of forms and sounds.
• Ability to work under moderately safe and comfortable conditions where exposure to environmental factors, such as potential violence and disease poses a minor risk of minor injury.

FULL-TIME BENEFITS - 32+ Hours/Week
Effective 1-1-2019
The following benefits are offered to regular full-time (32+ hours per week/1664+ annual hours minimum) employees, Please note that this is a summary and benefits are not guaranteed. Review the Quartz HMO or Quartz PPO Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) document for coverage details or contact Quartz directly.
HEALTH INSURANCE
Coverage is effective the day after hire; premiums are deducted monthly from the 1st payroll of the month.
Quartz HMO-benefits listed for in-network providers only.
Employee responsibility toward monthly premium:
Family $54.26
Employee & Spouse $35.60
Employee & Child $32.21
Single $16.95
In Network Provider Coverage ONLY- See SBC for details
Deductibles are $500/single - $1,000/family
$0 co-pay for preventative/screening
$30 co-pay on office visits
$100 co-pay on emergency room visits (co-pay waived if admitted to hospital)
Prescription drug co-pays:
$10/Tier 1
$35/Tier 2
$60/Tier 3
$200 Specialty drugs
$5 RX Outcomes
Out of Pocket Limit $2850 Single/ $5700 Family
Quartz POS
Employee responsibility toward monthly premium:
Family $334.30
Employee & Spouse $219.38
Employee & Child $198.49
Single $104.47
Note: the Quartz POS coverage has higher and separate deductibles and out of pocket costs. Refer to the SBC for details. This Plan does allow the flexibility to use in and out of network providers. But, the costs are higher. Refer to the SBC for details.
Employee out of pocket qualified medical expenses can be run through the flexible spending plan (Section 125) which is managed through Employee Benefits Corporation (EBC). Enrollment into this plan occurs only during annual enrollment which is November/December.
DENTAL INSURANCE
Coverage is effective the day after hire. The City covers 100% of the premium for dental coverage. Note: Full-Time employees pay no portion of the dental premium.
Delta Dental benefits listed for in-network providers only
Delta Dental In-Network Coverage:
There is no deductible for dental coverage.
Per person, per benefit accumulation period is $1,000.
Diagnostic and preventive procedures are paid at 100%;
Basic restorative procedures are paid at 80%;
Major restorative procedures are paid at 50%;
Orthodontic procedures are paid at 0%.
Check Up Plus - lets you obtain diagnostic and preventive services - including examinations, X-rays, regular cleanings and other related treatments without the costs of those services applying to your individual annual maximum. The full value of your annual maximum is applied to the benefits you receive for base and major
restorative services.
RETIREMENTProvider Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS)
2019 Wisconsin Retirement Rate is 13.10% for general employees. The employer and employee shares are equal at 6.55% each.
2019 Wisconsin Retirement Rate is 17.10% for protective employees. The employer share is 10.55% and the employee share is 6.55%.
Eligibility to Participate- from the ETF Your Benefit Handbook (ET-2119) Rev10/13
Depending on when you began your job, your job will have to meet one of these two standards for it to be covered under the WRS.

• One-third standard -- A position that is subject to the one-third standard meets WRS participation standards if you are expected to work at least one-third of full-time (600 hours for non-teaching employees) for at least one year from date of hire. You will remain eligible even if your job subsequently drops below one-third.
• Two-thirds standard -- A position that is subject to the two-thirds standard meets WRS participation standards if you are expected to work at least two-thirds of full-time (1200 hours for non-teaching employees) for at least one year from date of hire. You will remain eligible even if your job subsequently drops below two-thirds.

If you were a continuing employee as of July 1, 2011, your job must meet the one-third standard. You will remain eligible even if your job subsequently drops below one-third.
If you were hired after July 1, 2011:

• If you were a participating employee before July 1, 2011, left WRS service, did not take
• A separation benefit, and are now returning in a new job, your job must meet the one-third standard.
• If you were a participating employee before July 1, 2011, left WRS service, took a separation benefit, and are now returning in a new job, your job must meet the two-thirds standard.
• If you were not a participating employee before July 1, 2011, your job must meet the two-thirds standard.*

If you are not expected to meet these eligibility criteria when you are hired, you will not be enrolled in the WRS at that time. However, if you subsequently work at least 12 months, and in any 12-month period you meet the hour's requirement, you are prospectively enrolled in the WRS. In this situation, your WRS coverage is not retroactive.
WRS Mandatory Employee Contributions
If your employment is eligible to be covered under the WRS, you must make employee-required contributions. These contributions are credited to your individual WRS account. These contributions are vested immediately.
Your contributions are calculated as a percentage of your WRS earnings. The contribution rates are different for each WRS employment category. The rates generally change from year to year based on the recommendation of the consulting actuary.
Your employer may have agreed to pay part or all of your employee required WRS contributions on your behalf, pursuant to a contract or collective bargaining agreement entered into prior to June 29, 2011. In addition, certain employees retained the right to bargain with their employers after that date over who will pay the employee-required contributions...