City of Pinellas Park

POLICE DISPATCHER   

As civilian employees of the Police Department, dispatchers work in the Communications Center and often serve as a citizen's first point of contact with the Department. A career as a Police Dispatcher is challenging, interesting and highly rewarding. You will have an opportunity to work with sworn police officers on a daily basis in solving crisis situations, assisting citizens and fellow Department members and ensuring that communication between citizens and officers in the field flows efficiently and effectively.

Police Dispatchers respond to requests for information or police services received through the 911 emergency calls, routine telephone calls and from citizens who come to police headquarters. These requests can range from emergency situations needing immediate police service, such as a report of a robbery or burglary in progress, to providing a citizen with directions to a local City business. The City of Pinellas Park utilizes a Computer Aided Dispatch System to facilitate those communications, simplify reporting in the field and maintain required records. Police Dispatchers also process requests from other police departments and government agencies.

Dispatchers also provide officers with a wide variety of support services such as conducting wanted person checks by computer through the state and national law enforcement computer networks, conducting drivers license and vehicle registration checks by computer with the Florida Crime Information Center and / or Florida Department of Highway Safety, communicating with other area police communications centers to obtain necessary information and countless other needed and vital services.

Does this sound interesting? Here are the basic requirements to for employment as a Police Dispatcher with the City of Pinellas Park:

         You must be a high school graduate or have a GED.

         You must be at least 18 years of age.

         You must have a legal right to work in the United States

         You must be willing to work nights, weekends, holidays and a variety of shifts

     You must be able to wear a headset for prolonged periods of time 

         You must be able to sit for long periods of time

         You must be able to remain calm in stressful situations

         You must be able to type 30 WPM.

Asking yourself if you can do the job?

No one can be expected to walk into a job such as Police Dispatcher and immediately be knowledgeable and proficient in all aspects of the job. The Police Department has an intense training program for a minimum of 24 weeks to ensure your success as a Police Dispatcher. After all, we have a vested interest in your success.

During training you will be paired with various experienced Police Dispatchers who will serve as your Training Officer (CTO). Your CTO will help you with everything from learning the layout of the facilities to learning how to use the computer systems. As with all of the other training, there is no cost to you for this training. Once you have successfully completed all phases of the training program you will be fully certified and join the ranks as a regular member of the police dispatching team. After your basic certification you will also receive periodic job related training courses.

WANT SOME MORE INFORMATION?

Summary of Salary and Benefits

The City of Pinellas Park strives to ensure that the salary and benefits to its employees are competitive with other local governments in the region. Below you will find information about base salaries, annual and sick leave, and health care. This information provides only a general overview and you should keep in mind that City Administrative Regulations and Ordinances are the controlling authority in these areas. If you have specific questions you should feel free to contact the City's Personnel Office by calling 727.541.0700.

Salary

The City uses a two-week pay period, based on 40 hours per week, with 26 biweekly pay periods each year. Your base salary does not include any overtime that may be worked. Hours worked on an overtime basis are paid at 1.5 times your normal hourly rate. After completing the training program successfully, a 5% pay differential is paid to those that work evenings and 10% to those that work midnight shifts. 

In addition, the City's pay scale provides steps above base salary levels based on positive annual performance evaluations. These pay step increases normally occur on your employment anniversary date and coincide with your Annual Employee Performance Evaluation. Steps usually result in a 2.5% pay increase. These steps are in addition to any cost of living increase given at fiscal year on October 1.  It normally takes 16 years to reach the top pay within any grade. No salary increase is an absolute. City Council approves any and all increases.

The position of Police Dispatcher is classified as an hourly non-exempt position and is a City Grade 19. Currently the starting pay for this grade is $14.06 per hour or $29,245.58 annually. The current top salary for Police Dispatcher is $21.39 per hour or $44,490.68 annually.

Benefits

The City provides a wide variety of employee benefits including health care, retirement, deferred compensation plans, an Employee Assistance Program and life insurance.

Annual Leave

City employees earn Annual Leave to use for personal time, vacations or for any other personal activities. Annual Leave accrues monthly after 6 months and is based on your length of service with the City.

Sick Leave

You may use Sick Leave when sick, ill, have medical appointments during your scheduled working hours, or need to attend to the illness of an immediate family member.

            Probation Period

The probation period for Public Safety Dispatchers is 1 year from date of hire.

Health Insurance

The City offers several health and dental insurance plans. Both the City and the employee contribute to the cost of plan you select. For more information about the various plans, please contact the City's Risk Management Office.

Want to know how to apply or still have some more questions?

            Please contact Communications Supervisor Clyde Walters at the Communications Center

            at 727.541.0758 or Human Resources at 727.541.0700.  You can also send an email to

            cwalters@pinellas-park.com for more info.