State of California Dispatch Standards

(a) The Commission shall establish a Public Safety Dispatcher Program for the purpose of raising the level of competence of public safety dispatchers having primary responsibility for providing dispatching services for local law enforcement agencies listed in subsection (a) of Penal Code section 13510.

(b) Specialized Public Safety Dispatcher Program

Any public jurisdiction or agency, other than those described in Penal Code section 13510(a), which employs public safety dispatchers whose primary responsibility is providing dispatch services for law enforcement personnel, may participate in the Specialized Public Safety Dispatcher Program. Such participants shall not be eligible for reimbursement. All rules and procedures, except reimbursement provisions, that apply to the Public Safety Dispatcher Program shall also apply to the Specialized Public Safety Dispatcher Program.

(c) Minimum Selection Standards for Public Safety Dispatchers

Every public safety dispatcher candidate shall be subject to the following requirements:

(1) Background Investigation: A thorough background investigation shall be conducted before hire to verify the absence of past behavior indicative of unsuitability to perform public safety dispatcher duties. The background investigation shall include a check of Department of Motor Vehicle records, and a search of local, state, and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal record. Results of the background investigation shall be reduced to writing and retained by the department.

(2) Medical Examination: A medical examination shall be conducted before hire to verify the absence of any medical condition which would preclude the safe and efficient performance of dispatcher duties. Signed written verification of the medical examination having been conducted in accordance with this requirement, by a licensed physician and surgeon, shall be retained by the department.

(3) Oral Communications: Oral communication skills shall be evaluated before hire to assure the presence of skill levels commensurate with the performance of dispatcher duties.

Verbal Reasoning, Memory, and Perceptual Abilities Assessment (as defined in section (A) 1-4 below): These abilities shall be evaluated before hire to assure the presence of ability levels commensurate with the performance of dispatcher duties, as measured by the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery or alternative job-related tests of these abilities.

(A) Ability Definitions:

1. Verbal ability includes written and oral comprehension (the ability to read passages and listen to orally imparted information and retrieve facts, draw conclusions, and derive meaning) and written expression (the ability to use language to convey information clearly in writing).

2. Reasoning ability includes at least one of the following: (1) deductive reasoning (the ability to apply general rules to specific problems to attain logical answers) or (2) information ordering (the ability to correctly follow a given rule or set of rules to arrange things or actions in a certain order).

3. Memory ability includes the capacity to store and retrieve facts, details, and other information.

4. Perceptual ability includes speed and accuracy (the ability to quickly and accurately compare letters and numbers presented orally and in written form) and time sharing (the ability to shift back and forth between two or more sources of information both written and orally imparted in the performing a task or set of tasks).

B. Exemption: Any candidate who has (1) successfully completed the Public Safety Dispatcher's Basic Course or passed the POST Basic Dispatcher Training Equivalency Examination (Commission Procedure F-5) and (2) completed probation as a dispatcher during previous employment shall be exempt from the requirements set forth in section 10118(c)(4).

(d) Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Dispatchers

Every public safety dispatcher shall satisfactorily complete the POST-certified Public Safety Dispatcher's Basic Course as set forth in PAM, section D-1-6 before or within 12 months after the date of appointment, promotion, reclassification, or transfer to a public safety dispatcher position, or possess the Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate.

(e) Probation Period

Every full-time employed public safety dispatcher after hire shall demonstrate competence in the performance of the duties of a public safety dispatcher by satisfactory completion of a probationary period of at least 12 months. Upon entry into the program, departments with a probation period of less than 12 months, when established by ordinance, charter, or memorandum of understanding, shall be granted a waiver of this requirement until a 12-month probation period can be established.

(f) The Commission shall award Public Safety Dispatcher Certificates to dispatchers who qualify as provided in PAM, section F-5, for the purpose of fostering professionalization.

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Last Updated August 21, 1997