Dispatcher, Emergency Services

Overview

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the primary department charged with creating a safe and secure environment at Princeton University. DPS operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and is comprised of 164 staff members. The department consists of professional University police, security officers, dispatchers, and administrators dedicated to providing best-in-class service to the community.

DPS was originally recognized and awarded Law Enforcement Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in July 2015, and subsequently awarded reaccreditation status in July 2018 and July 25, 2022. CALEA serves as the “International Gold Standard for Public Safety Agencies” and oversees a rigorous accreditation process. In addition, DPS was awarded accreditation status by the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (NJLEAC) on March 14, 2019, and subsequently awarded reaccreditation status on March 10, 2022.

Dispatchers serve as the first point of contact for community members who are seeking assistance with their emergency, non-emergency and service request calls.

Responsibilities

The dispatchers receive calls, monitor several radio frequencies and monitor intrusion and fire alarms in a fast, courteous, accurate and efficient manner. After receiving a call the dispatcher must establish the nature and location of call(s), determine its priority, and dispatch the appropriate patrol unit, university support team and/or emergency services as necessary.

Dispatchers maintain contact with all units in service by accurately tracking, monitoring, and documenting officer activities during their shift. They operate Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) console equipped with multiple computer terminals, including 911 call handling, geographic information system (GIS) mapping, camera systems and a radio console with multiple radio channels to dispatch public safety.

The dispatcher must be familiar with operations and call transfer protocols of the two Mercer County Emergency Services Support Agencies, both Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Dispatch and The County Emergency Services Support Agencies of the contiguous County's Emergency Service Dispatch, Middlesex County.

The Communications Center operates 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and responds to over 100,000 calls for service and CAD dispatches per year and more than 30,000 emergency and non-emergency phone calls annually. In addition, they provide assistance to walk-up customers and provide general University information about the campus.

WORK HOURS

The Department of Public Safety is a 24/7, 365 day operation. Must be able to work on all shifts (standard work week is 40 hours, standard shifts are 8, 10 or 12 hours), during various hours, including weekends and holidays. Overtime is mandatory.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• Must have excellent customer service skills
• Ability to work on all shifts (standard work week is 40 hours, standard shifts are 8, 10 or 12 hours), during various hours, including weekends and holidays. Overtime is mandatory.
• Hold a current Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) certificate or be able to obtain during the probationary period (first 12 months).
• Hold a current Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) card or be able to obtain one within three months from date of hire.
• Hold an Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) or National Emergency Communications Institute (NECI) Emergency Communications Officer certification or be able to obtain during the probationary period (first 12 months).
• Able to remain seated for long periods of time at a console.
• Understand telephone conversations over a telephone or radio.
• Speak English clearly and enunciate words over a telephone or radio during stressful, emergency situations.
• Ability to: work, organize and operate with a high level of efficiency under pressure and extreme stress, to effectively handle multiple, differing tasks simultaneously; in multiple pieces of technology and software applications, to make critical decisions that affect campus wide response and reaction, to manage down time with self-initiated training, communications refreshers and at time limited supervision.
• This is a unionized position: International Union, Security, Police and Fire Professional of America (SPFPA).
• Per the SPFPA contract this position has a 12-month probationary period and the starting salary is $27.03/hour = $56,222/annual.
• The final candidate must successfully complete a background check.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Three years dispatching in a medium volume Public Safety Dispatch service center.
• Knowledge of and operations of a conventional radio system.
• Knowledge and ability to operate Digital Trunking Radio System.
• Associate or Bachelor's degree.