The University of Toledo

Police Dispatcher

UTPD employs both part time and full time dispatchers. Both classifications of dispatcher are represented by the Communication Workers of America (CWA) in the collective bargaining agreement with the University.

Wages

Both part time and full time dispatchers are on pay scales that include annual step increases, annual cost of living raises and longevity increases.
Part time dispatchers (Police Dispatcher 1s) work less than 40 hours a week.  Starting wages and top pay scale for this position, including longevity, may be found at the CWA contract site.  Click here to view the current contract and associated wages.

Full time dispatchers, in addition to working 40 hours per week, have other responsibilities, which classifies them as Police Dispatcher 2s. Starting wages and top pay scale for this position, including longevity, may be found at the CWA contract site.  Click here to view the current contract and associated wages.

Benefits

CWA members are part of the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). As part of this plan, they may retire at age 55 (or later), if they have completed at least 25 years of service in PERS. The employee’s contribution is 8.5% of each paycheck. The University contributes 13.31%

The University also provides, at no cost, a group term life and accidental death and dismemberment policy. The coverage for CWA members is 2.045 times base annual salary.

The University also provides an extensive health care benefits package, which includes medical visits, prescription drugs, dental care, and a vision plan.
In addition to retirement, life insurance, and health care benefits, CWA members, their spouses, and dependents, may also take advantage of the various tuition benefits offered by the University. They include everything from partial to free tuition for undergraduate, graduate, or continuing education coursework.

Requirements

Applicants for the position of Police Dispatcher for The University of Toledo must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be a high school graduate or equivalent
• Have excellent public relations skills
• Must have four (4) months of training and/or experience as a radio dispatcher with like duties for a law enforcement agency
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide whole numbers
• Read and write simple sentences
• Must be eligible for certification to access information from various law enforcement databases

Candidates that meet these requirements will be notified that they have met the minimum requirements for the position.  Preference will be given to candidates with law enforcement dispatching experience and with LEADS/NORIS experience.

Candidates will then be required to pass the below listed phases of the selection process.  Candidates are strongly encouraged to review the 'reasons for disqualification' prior to Phase 2 of the selection process.  Should a candidate believe he/she may meet disqualifying criteria, the candidate may voluntaryily withdrawl from the selection process.
 

SELECTION PROCESS PHASES FOR CANDIDATES

Phase 1 – Application Phase & Review

The first phase of the selection process for University of Toledo Police Department Dispatcher is the application and review phase. Applications are reviewed to verify that all candidates meet the minimum qualifications as outlined for the position of University Police Department Dispatcher. Additionally, an abbreviated background review is conducted to verify that candidates do not meet any disqualifying criteria as outlined later in this literature packet.

Phase 2 – Interview Assessment Panel

An interview panel will be convened by the Administrative Lieutenant who oversees Police Dispatch Communications. The panel will be charged with the duty of evaluating each candidate on their responses to a series of pre-selected questions. This panel is commonly made up of police command officer(s); police officer(s); dispatcher(s); and members of other entities as designated by the Chief of Police.

Phase 3 – Chief and Deputy Chief of Police Interview Assessment

Candidates who advance from Phase 2 may then be interviewed by the Chief and Deputy Chief of Police. Both will interview each candidate for purposes of evaluating the candidate’s responses to a series of pre-selected questions. Upon conclusion of this interview, both will assess each candidate individually based on a totality of all phases completed by the candidate.


Phase 4 – Background Investigation

A University of Toledo Police Department Background Investigator will be assigned to conduct your pre-employment background investigation. The Investigator will utilize information contained in your completed personal history questionnaire in addition to information from other sources. You will note that the packet covers in part, the following: Personal and family history; marital status; education; military service (if applicable); employment history; previous law enforcement agency applications; traffic record history; criminal record history; police contact history; general information inquiry; and personal references.  

The background investigation phase normally takes several weeks to complete; however, in some instances it may be longer, particularly if you have had past jobs or residences in other cities or states. Should you have any questions at any point during the background investigation phase, you should contact your Background Investigator through the main campus police dispatch. 

NOTE: Certain contents of your background investigation may be considered confidential police records and thus, not available for release to you for review. Furthermore, your responses on the personal history questionnaire will be subject to verification including verification via source documentation.

Phase 5 – Conditional Offer of Employment

Candidates who advance to this phase will be offered a “conditional offer of employment” by the Chief of Police or his designee. This offer of employment is “conditional” based on the candidate successfully passing the remaining phases of the selection process.

Phase 6 – Psychological Profile Evaluation

The psychological profile evaluation helps to ascertain if the candidate’s personality is suited for being a University Police Department Dispatcher. The candidate will be required to complete the psychological evaluation by a licensed psychologist selected by the University of Toledo Police Department. Upon completion of the evaluation the candidate may be required to be interviewed by the same psychologist. Your complete psychological profile evaluation will then be forwarded to the Chief of Police or his designee for review.  

Phase 7 – Medical / Drug Urinalysis Examinations

The candidate will be required to complete an employment medical examination conducted by a licensed physician selected by The University of Toledo Police Department. The purpose of the examination is to determine the candidate’s general medical fitness for being a University of Toledo Police Department Dispatcher. The examination will include pre-employment drug urinalysis screening.  

Upon successful completion of the medical and drug urinalysis examinations, the candidate will be eligible for employment as a University of Toledo Police Department Dispatcher. 

Phase 8 – Dispatcher Training Program

Newly hired University of Toledo Police Department Dispatcher’s will be required to successfully complete a regimented training Program. In addition to this program, newly hired Dispatchers will start a probationary period lasting a period of twelve (12) months. Dispatchers successfully completing both the training program and the probationary period will advance to becoming a permanent part-time or full-time University of Toledo Police Department Dispatcher.

Disqualification Criteria

Prior to applying, candidates are strongly encouraged to review the 'disqualification criteria' to ascertain if he/she meets one or more of the listed disqualifying factors.  For a listing of this criteria please click on the link below:

DISQUALIFYING CRITERIA 



When to apply

The University accepts applications both when there are openings, or when a pool of qualified applicants is being created in anticipation of job openings. As a matter of practice, the University announces all Police Dispatcher hiring efforts in classified ads in The (Toledo) Blade, The Toledo Journal, and La Prensa on on the University's Job Ops website. PLEASE DO NOT APPLY UNLESS THERE IS AN ACTIVE POSTING. 

The University of Toledo is an Equal Access, Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer and Educator.