Policy Text
ALAMEDA POLICE
DEPARTMENT
Public Safety Dispatcher Training Manual
Revised : March 26 , 2020
Alameda Police Department Mission Statement
The Alameda Police Department is a team of dedicated men and women committed to providing:
• Professional, proactive and personable police services;
• Collaborative problem -solving with other governmental and community organizations;
• An open relationship with citizens focused on improving their quality of life.
Alameda Police Department Leadership Pledge
As members of this Department, we are leaders in our organization and community. Through teamwork and
innovation, we strive to provide mentorship, training, equipment and support; encourage collaborative problem
solving and maintaining high morale. We are committed to the principles of leadership and will continue to
strengthen relationships within our community by remaining true to our core values of integrity, profess ionalism and
service.
Alameda Police Department 1 Public Safety Dispatcher Training Manual
INTRODUCTION
Each Public Safety Dispatcher is the product of a rigorous pre -employment selection process that
evaluates a candidate’s inter -personal skills and technical abilities. You scored highly in this
process and it is a pleasure to welcome you to the Alameda Police D epartment.
The Communications Center has evolved from officers being signaled by a light to call in fo r
assignment s, to a two -way radio system, and to the present day Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD)
system . Dispatching duties were originally handled by police officers until December 1982 when
the Communications C enter was staffed fully by civilian employees .
The Communications C enter was initially responsible for Police and Fire Dispatch services .
Howev er, in May 2002, Fire services were transferred to Alameda County Regional Emergency
Communications Center (ACRECC). Our Communications Center is still considered the primary
Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for the City of Alameda , fielding all types of calls including
fire and medical, but are considered a Police Dispatch Center.
Our goal is to develop t he potential you displayed during the selection process into expe rtise
during the upcoming weeks. The training program has been organized in such a way that you will be exposed to a comprehensive range of d ispatch r esponsibilities. We expect that you put for th
the effort to succeed, not only during training, but every day as a Public Safety Dispatcher.
Formal instruction will be provided by e xperi enced Public Safety Dispatchers, known as
Communic ations Training Officers (CTO ’s). You will be assigned to a Senior Public Safety
Dispatcher (Lead) who will work to ensure your day to day training needs are met . Your overall
progress will be monitored by t he Communications Supervisor who will provide all training
assignments and make adjustments to the program as needed.
CALL TAKING OVERVIEW
Public Safety Dispatchers functioning as Call Takers answer telephone calls for public safety -
related matters. Upon receipt of a call, a Dispatcher questions the caller to determine the validity,
nature, and priority of the call. In most cases, calls for service result in the generation of an incident to be dispatched.
For those calls requiring the response of a police/fire unit, information is entered into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. The C all Taker may be tasked with gathering information
from a multit ude of resources while processing these calls which may include assistance from
other personnel, the Records Management System, etc.
POLICE DISPATCH OVERVIEW
Dispatchers assigned to the Police Radio are responsible for prompt and effective transmissions o f
calls as well as the coordination of unit to unit communications . The Police Dispatcher uses the
CAD/MDT systems for dispatching calls, monitoring the status of units , and processing requests for
Alameda Police Department 2 Public Safety Dispatcher Training Manual
information from local and statewide databases. The job of the Police Dispatcher requi res
considerable initiative and independent judgment in determining priorities, coordinating a variety
of simultaneous activities , and may also require the processing of critical field requests from other
City divisions or outside agencies.
DISPATCH TRAINING MANUAL
This manual has been written as a guide to ensure new employees are trained in the same
manner, in the same tasks, and in the same subjects. As a trainee, you will use the manual as a reference for each phase of the program. Your notes and training materials shall be maintained in
the manual as you will refer to them often.
This manual has been developed to prepare the t rainee to properly and safely serve the public and
Agency. It provides a basic body of k nowledge vital to Emergency Communications functions
which includes the following:
• VESTA 9 -1-1 telephone system
• Call Taking st andards to gather information for the rapid and accurate dissemination of
information
• Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and Records Management System (RMS)
• East Bay Regional Communications System Authority (EBRCSA) radio system
• Police Dispatch radio codes and procedures
• Commonly used sections of the Penal Code, Motor Vehicle Code, Alameda Municipal Code,
and other related statutes
• California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS)
• Basic organizational structure of local government with an emphasis on Law Enforcement
• Current operational procedures, policies, resources, and reference materials directly
related t o Communications Center functions
• Local geography
Alameda Police Department 3 Public Safety Dispatcher Training Manual
TRAINING PROGRAM
ORIENTATION
Department tour and Human Resources Orientation facilitated by Personnel & Training. General
Communications Center overview and materials provided by