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NOTIFICATION OF ACTION TAKEN BY THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES ADDING THE CLASSIFICATION OF POLICE TELECOMMUNICATOR CALL TAKER TO THE POLICE TELECOMMUNICATOR I/II SERIES
RECOMMENDATION
This item is informational only. No action is necessary.
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Summary
This report is to inform the Civil Service Commission of action taken by the Director of Human Resources approving the classification specification of Police Telecommunicator I/II to Police Telecommunicator Call Taker/Police Telecommunicator I/II. Per Rule IV, section 5(b) of the Civil Service Rules and Regulations for Miscellaneous Employees, the Director of Human Resources shall approve all new or amended class specifications and file with the Secretary of the Commission.
The class specification for Police Telecommunicator I/II is being amended to add the Police Telecommunicator Call Taker level to establish it in the deep class series. In addition, a section within the minimum qualifications titled Physical/Mental Abilities is being added.
DISCUSSION
Background
In December 2012, the Police Department requested a review of the classifications assigned to the Dispatch Center. In working with the Police Department, it was determined the department has a need for a level below the class of Police Telecommunicator I, which is currently the entry-level into the Telecommunicator series. Staff recommendations were to create the Police Telecommunicator Call Taker class and embed it into the Police Telecommunicator deep class series for alternative staffing.
Pursuant to Stockton City Charter 2537, “As the legislative body of the City, the Council may provide for the placing of any of the other employees of the City, not mention or specified anywhere in this act, under civil service and under the jurisdiction of the Civil Service Commission…”
On August 9, 2016, Human Resources and the Police Department took a resolution to the City Council to create the new classified position. The resolution provided the City Council with the salary range for the Police Telecommunicator Call Taker in accordance with Stockton Municipal Code section 2.36.040 (D).
Present Situation
A study was conducted to analyze the classification structure and operational needs of the Police Telecommunicator Series. The public safety dispatch profession has a high turnover rate, and staff was continually recruiting, hiring, and training new Police Telecommunicators. Candidates hired into the Police Telecommunicator I class serve a one-year probationary period; and at a minimum, the first six months of this period is spent on training as a call taker. Once the candidate has met the performance standards as a call taker, he or she is moved onto the training period for dispatch. The dispatch duties are historically the most difficult and this second half of the training is where many trainees fail and are ultimately rejected during probation. It is estimated that one in four Police Telecommunicators hired are ultimately rejected during probation, and many of those rejected are good employees who would be a good fit in other classifications within the City, but are not able to meet the performance standards for a dispatcher.
It has been estimated by the Police Department that over $65,000 is spent on training and development for each Police Telecommunicator I new hire. By creating the new Police Telecommunicator Call Taker classification, the Police Department will be able to keep a candidate who may be a competent call taker, but is not able to meet the dispatch performance standards of a Police Telecommunicator I during the probationary period. The Police Telecommunicator I position will have the same duties as the proposed Police Telecommunicator Call Taker position but will also dispatch staff to emergencies. The Police Telecommunicator Call Taker will not have dispatch duties. The dispatch function is the primary difference between the duties of the Police Telecommunicator Call Taker and the Police Telecommunicator I. The Police Telecommunicator Call Taker will respond to a higher number of calls for service but all responsibilities for dispatching sworn officers via the radio, and the responsibility for continuing to provide information to officers as an event continues, is the responsibility of the Police Telecommunicator I/II position.
The Police Telecommunicator Call Taker class specification was provided to the Stockton City Employees’ Association (SCEA) for review and concurrence. Several changes were made through the meet and confer process and the final revisions were reviewed and signed off by SCEA on February 24, 2016.
AUTHORITY
Rule IV, section 4 of the Civil Service Rules and Regulations for Miscellaneous Employees provides the Director of Human Resources the authority, on behalf of the Civil Service Commission, to maintain and approve class specifications making up the Classification Plan.