Montana Highway Patrol Dispatcher

Division Overview:

The Montana Highway Patrol Communications Center provides communication and support services for Montana Highway Patrol Troopers, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Game Wardens, Montana Department of Transportation Motor Carrier Services Officers, Montana Department of Justice employees, Montana Department of Corrections Probation and Parole Officers, and coordinates with numerous other federal, state, and local agencies to uphold public safety. The 24-hour center operates at all hours, year-round, including weekends and holidays. The center is located on the west-end of Helena at Fort Harrison and provides centralized dispatch services to the state of Montana.

Job Overview:

Dispatchers answer emergency and non-emergency calls, determine the correct response, coordinate and dispatch law enforcement units to incident locations. Dispatchers transmit and receive information via two-way radio communication and query law enforcement databases for information in support of officer safety and the execution of law enforcement units’ duties. Dispatchers also coordinate with other public safety agencies and tow-truck companies to facilitate the appropriate response to incidents.

Dispatchers receive and handle calls from citizens who, at times, can be difficult to communicate with (upset, abusive, intoxicated, suicidal, very young/old, or speech impaired) and must be able to tolerate a high degree of stress and remain calm under emotionally challenging circumstances and/or during emergency conditions.

The center is structured into 3 teams (day shift, afternoon shift, and night shift), and each team is led by a shift supervisor who works alongside them. Dispatchers perform their duties in shift work under supervision of a shift supervisor. Dispatchers work a set schedule consisting of 5 8-hour shifts or 4 10-hour shifts and the work schedules are bid on by seniority, annually.

Minimum Qualifications:

MCA 7-31-202 requires all public safety communicators:

(1) Must be a citizen of the United States.

(2) Must be at least 18 years of age.

(3) Must be fingerprinted to disclose any criminal record.

(4) May not have been convicted of a crime for which the person could have been imprisoned in a federal or state penitentiary.

(5) Must be of good moral character as determined by a background check.

(6) Must be a high school graduate or equivalent.

Knowledge and Abilities:

• Recognize and communicate standard alphanumeric sequences (license plates, vehicle identification numbers, driver license numbers, addresses, highways/mile markers).

• Operate a computer terminal, multi-line phone system and two-way radio system.

• Type at a speed of not less than 40 words per minute.

• Work under stress and maintain composure.

• Sit/stand for prolonged periods in a confined space.

• Refer to and follow policies and procedures.

• Maintain confidentiality of privileged information.

• Document and disseminate information quickly and accurately by phone, radio, in-person, and through a variety of other systems.

• Hear, comprehend, and multi-task in a fast-paced/noisy environment.

• Provide effective public safety related services when dealing with both routine and emergency situations.

Physical Requirements:

The position is sedentary in nature with long periods of sitting or standing in a confined work area; however, dispatchers are required to perform some light lifting, stooping, and bending in the process of working with files and performing routine office duties.

Special Instructions:

The selection procedures to be used in evaluating the applicant's qualification may include, but are not limited to, an evaluation of the resume, a structured interview, skills assessment, academic transcripts, reference/background checks and fingerprint checks.

Additional materials, references or information submitted by the applicant, but not requested, will not be considered.

Successful applicant(s) will be subject to:

• Skills Assessment
• Criminal History Fingerprint / Name-based Check
• Background Check
• Driving History Check

Career Ladder – Placement

New employees may be credited with up to three years’ previous related experience with other law enforcement agencies.

Title	Education/Experience*	Pay Rate
Probationary CSO	0 to 1 year experience	$27.05
CSO I	1 year experience	$28.55
CSO II	3 years’ experience	$29.55
CSO III