On the shores of Bellingham Bay with Mount Baker as its backdrop, Bellingham is the last major city before the Washington coastline meets the Canadian border. The City of Bellingham, which serves as the county seat of Whatcom County, is at the center of a uniquely picturesque area offering a rich variety of recreational, cultural, educational and economic activities.

A Public Safety Dispatcher receives and processes telephone requests for police, fire and medical emergency response. The person in this position determines the nature, urgency and jurisdiction of a call and either dispatches public safety personnel and equipment to the scene of the emergency or transfers the call to the appropriate jurisdiction. The Dispatcher enters information from the caller and responding units into a computer-aided dispatch software program and continually updates the status of those responding to the incident. The WhatCOMM Dispatch center serves as the Public Safety Answering Point for Whatcom County. The center also serves as the activation point for the AMBER Alert Plan for North Puget Sound.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

WhatCOMM Dispatcher In Training:

This is the entry-level position for new Public Safety Dispatchers during their training period. A new hire will go through a structured training program to learn WhatCOMM policies and procedures for handling emergent and non-emergent calls as well as other agency, department, and dispatch center protocols. 

WhatCOMM Dispatcher I:

A Dispatcher in Training will promote to Dispatcher I when he or she completes the initial training period and can independently handle the call receiving function. 

WhatCOMM Dispatcher II:

A Dispatcher II is distinguished from the Dispatcher I position by the ability to handle both dispatch consoles as well as the call receiving function.

Essential Functions:
1. Receives, prioritizes, and routes emergency telephone calls from the public to appropriate jurisdictions. Enters the nature, location and source of the emergency call into a computer terminal using computer-aided dispatch software. Retrieves and evaluates information from the computer-based on knowledge of dispatch and emergency response procedures, status of available emergency responders and familiarity with major roads, local businesses and geographic features. Relays call information and/or dispatches appropriate Police personnel to the scene of the reported incident.
2. Enters and receives information such as wants, stolen vehicles, missing persons and runaways from a computer terminal with a nationwide law enforcement database and transmits requested information to law enforcement personnel in the field.
3. Communicates with a variety of agencies including US Customs, Canadian Customs, WSP, US Border Patrol, USCG, Homeland Security and Whidbey Island Naval Base regarding warrant service and resources that the agencies have available for emergencies.
4. Regularly contacts and updates status of field units according to established procedures and protocols. Contacts various resources as requested by field units.
5. Receives non-emergency telephone complaints and inquiries from the public. Determines the nature of the call based on established procedures and either refers the caller to the appropriate agency or enters the call in the computer and dispatches units according to the priority and urgency of the call.
6. Staffs the NAWAS phone and notifies Whatcom County Department of Emergency Management of changes. Notifies San Juan County of all situations that may affect them.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES REQUIRED:
1. Generates routine reports such as the incident history reports and incident shift summaries.
2. Develops and recommends updates to comprehensive dispatch policies, procedures, and protocols as necessary for the efficient operations of the center. Identifies and recommends new policies and procedures to improve dispatch operations and minimize liability.
3. Performs Lead Worker duties as assigned to include posting overtime, making seating charts, and notifying Deputy Director of equipment/personnel issues and significant events that may impact staffing.
4. Performs training of new employees to include call receiving and radio dispatching.
5. Performs other duties within the scope of the classification.

Bellingham Police - WhatCOMM Dispatcher has 3 vacancies.

The deadline to test for the next hiring cycle is December 31, 2022.

This process is an open and continuous examination. Applications will be reviewed as they are received on an ongoing basis. Candidates will be notified of their rank and score regularly as incoming applications are reviewed.

This recruitment process will create a Civil Service register that will be used to fill anticipated vacancies.

Each candidate placed on the Civil Service Eligibility Register will remain on the register for 2 months from the date of their placement on the register.

Example: John Smith was placed on the eligibility register on April 24, 2022 and will remain on the register through June 23, 2022 while Sue Jones was placed on the eligibility register on May 10, 2022 and will remain on the register through July 9, 2022.

$25.69/hr - WhatCOMM Dispatcher -in -training

$27.24/hr - $33.49/hr - WhatCOMM Dispatcher (fully trained)

The City’s excellent and comprehensive benefit program includes medical, dental and vision coverage for employees and their dependents, plus life insurance and long term disability for employees. The package includes generous paid leave provisions, including vacation, 12 holidays per year and sick leave. City employees participate in the Washington State Retirement System with joint contributions by the City and the employee. The City of Bellingham also offers an Employee Assistance Program, and employees have the option of participating in a Flexible Spending Plan for health care/dependent care reimbursement, as well as deferred compensation programs. Additional information about the benefits can be found in the What-Comm collective bargaining agreement at: https://www.cob.org/employment/Pages/labor-agreements-pay-schedule.aspx