NEOGOV · 2 months ago
What-Comm Public Safety Telecommunicator (Dispatcher)
City of Bellingham, WA
Full-time
Onsite
Entry Level
$33.13/hr - $39.55/hr
1+ years expNEOGOV is seeking a What-Comm Public Safety Telecommunicator to join the City of Bellingham's Police Department. This role involves receiving and processing emergency requests for police, fire, and medical assistance, while ensuring effective communication and dispatch of public safety personnel.
GovTechHuman ResourcesInformation TechnologySoftware
Responsibilities
Receives, prioritizes, and routes emergent and non-emergent reports from the public to appropriate jurisdictions. Accurately documents the location, nature, and source of the emergency report into a computer terminal using computer-aided dispatch (CAD) software. Develops and maintains familiarity with major roads, local businesses, and geographic features
Professionally controls calls using de-escalation techniques and clear, effective verbal communication. Uses critical thinking and problem-solving skills to make decisions quickly in accordance with policy and procedures. Maintains a calm demeanor under chaotic and stressful circumstances, multiple conversations, and a frequently noisy environment. Employs effective stress management to maintain wellness and efficacy. Adheres to confidentiality, disclosure, and privacy related policies and laws
Relays incident information and/or dispatches appropriate Police personnel to the scene of the reported incident. Retrieves and evaluates information from multiple databases based on knowledge of dispatch and emergency response procedures. Regularly contacts and updates status of field units according to established procedures and protocols. Contacts various resources as requested by field units. Switches rapidly between emergent tasks, prioritizing duties as needed to support the safety of responders and citizens
Queries databases and evaluates warrant, order, stolen property, and missing person information. Enters stolen vehicles and missing persons or runaways into state and nationwide law enforcement databases and transmits requested information to law enforcement personnel in the field. Receives, documents, and processes incident information from various sources including but not limited to phone, text, TTY, relay services, telematics companies, and radio. Generates routine reports such as the incident history reports and incident shift summaries
Communicates with a variety of local, state, and federal agencies regarding law enforcement activity and resources available for emergencies
Develops and maintains working knowledge of best practices pertaining to public safety telecommunications. Maintains currency with industry changes and participates in continuing education and professional development
May participate in developing and recommending updates to comprehensive dispatch policies, procedures, and protocols as necessary for the efficient operation of the center. Identifies and recommends new policies and procedures to improve dispatch operations and minimize liability
Performs Lead Worker duties as assigned to include posting and mandating overtime, making seating charts, and notifying Supervisors or the Deputy Director of equipment/personnel issues and significant events which may impact staffing
Performs training of new employees to include call receiving and radio dispatching, as assigned
Performs other duties within the scope of the classification
Manages chain of custody for records and documents used in court proceedings and legal discovery as assigned
Qualification
Required
One year of experience in a position with intensive public contact
Keyboard entry skills at a minimum of 40 wpm net
Must acquire within first year of training a working knowledge of the geography of Whatcom County to include: cities and towns, locations and names of highways, main streets, major buildings and businesses and establishments such as names of parks
Employment contingent upon passing a criminal convictions check, background investigation, polygraph examination, and fingerprinting. Subject to re-check every five years
Must be able to obtain and maintain ACCESS Level 2 and CJIS Level 3 certification within six months of hire
Must obtain and maintain Telecommunicator 1 & 2 certifications within twelve months of hire
Must obtain and maintain certifications as required under the Washington State PST Certification Program
Continuing education courses and recertification will be required as identified by the department
Failure to obtain and maintain appropriate certifications within established time limits will result in demotion to the lower class for which qualified, until such time as the required certification is achieved or termination if incumbent is not qualified for a lower class
Must pass a hearing evaluation prior to hire
Must pass a pre-employment drug screen
Must have a regular form of communication such as a land line telephone or a cell phone and the willingness and ability to respond to mandatory recall to duty
Willingness and ability to work rotating shifts covering 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays
Preferred
Experience or training in the use of computer software such as word processing, spreadsheets, database management, desktop publishing programs or other business/educational software
Experience using multi-line phone systems
Previous experience in public safety dispatching
Benefits
8 hours of Holiday Pay at the rate of 1.5 times the regular rate of pay for 12 designated holidays
2.5 times the regular rate of pay for overtime hours worked on designated holidays
Shift Differential for hours worked between 2:00 pm and 6:00 am
1% certification premium for obtaining and maintaining Telecommunicator Certifications
Up to 1.5% matching deferred compensation contribution
Eligibility for 3% Master Dispatcher premium after seven years of service
Protected bid leave time
7.34 hours of vacation leave per month, with increased accrual over time
12 paid designated holidays + 3 floating holidays per year
8 hours sick leave accrued monthly
Medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families
Life insurance and long-term disability coverage
Flexible spending accounts and medical insurance opt-out program
Access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Washington State Retirement plan (DRS) for retirement security
Optional 457 deferred compensation (Retirement Savings Plan) with employer match
Non-traditional work hours
Supportive and fun team members
Annual continuing education opportunities
Room for advancement, and more!
Company
NEOGOV
NEOGOV is the leading provider of workforce management software uniquely designed for the public sector, education, and public safety.
501-1000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
NEOGOV has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (13)
2024 (10)
2023 (10)
2022 (18)
2021 (14)
2020 (16)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$700MKey Investors
Warburg Pincus
2025-07-28Secondary Market· $700M
2025-07-28Acquired
2021-06-02Private Equity
Leadership Team
Shane Evangelist
CEO
Brandon McDonald
Head Of Marketing
Recent News
Canada NewsWire
2025-11-14
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2025-10-31
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