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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02281989 - IO.2 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS --L- Contra INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE Costa FROM: •i 1.• n1 is February 13 , 1989 , 4 County DATE: 4ryA,coun SUBJECT: Steps Taken to Improve Recruitment of Sheriff ' s Dispatchers SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: 1 . Accept the attached report from the Director of Personnel on the steps which have been taken to improve the recruitment, testing, and retention of Sheriff ' s Dispatchers. 2 . Request the Sheriff-Coroner and Director of Personnel to provide our Committee a further status report on this subject on July 10, 1989 at the time our Committee reviews the staff report on DRCC, including the total number of positions that are vacant, the number of positions that are filled, what salary changes have been made, and how the steps outlined in the attached report have contributed to improving the recruitment, testing, and retention of Dispatchers. 3 . Leave this item on referral to our Committee. BACKGROUND: On December 20, 1988, the Board of Supervisors referred to our Committee the issue of what steps could be taken to improve the recruitment, testing, certification, selection, and retention problems which have been faced by the Sheriff with Dispatchers, both at DRCC and at COM 7 . On February 13 , 1989, our Committee met with staff from the Sheriff-Coroner ' s Office, the Personnel Department, members of the Grand Jury, and other interested parties. Eileen Bitten from the Personnel Department reviewed the attached report with us . CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY MINISTR OR X RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE X APPROVE THER SIGNATURE(S): o Powers Sunne IJri ght McPeak ACTION OF BOARD ON - February 28, 1989 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT III ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. cc: County Administrator � At /989 Sheriff-Coroner ATTESTED Personnel Director PHIL BATCHELOR,eERKOFTHE BOARD OF Police Chiefs : Antioch,Pittsburg,grentwood SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Chief, Riverview Fire Protection Dist. M382 (10/88) BY DEPUTY Page 2 This report outlines a number of steps which are being taken jointly by the Sheriff and the Personnel Department to improve the recruitment, examining and certification of candidates for Dispatcher positions. Both the Sheriff and the Personnel Department believe that these steps will markedly improve the process and provide the Sheriff with more candidates more quickly .who are likely to be better qualified and more likely to stay on the job. Negotiations are currently under way over a possible salary adjustment for the Sheriff ' s Dispatchers. We would like to review, this matter again after the changes which are proposed have been in .place for awhile, and after the salary negotiations have been concluded. We are, therefore, requesting that a further status report be made to our Committee this summer when we review the entire issue of DRCC. I Co' ntra i_ Personnel Department CostaAdministration Bldg. 651 Pine Street Cou ityMartinez, California 94553-1292 Y DATE: February 9, 1989 TO: Internal Operations Committee FROM: Harry Cisterman, Director of Personnel SUBJECT: Progress Report on Recruitment, Examination and Certification of Sheriff's Dispatchers. The Internal Operations . Committee has requested information regarding efforts of the Personnel Department to enhance the recruitment and selection of Sheriff' s Dispatchers. This report expands on information initially provided on this subject in our December 2, 1988 memo discussing both salary and recruitment of Sheriff's Dispatchers. All of the changes discussed in this report have been developed with the cooperation and approval of the staff of the Sheriff's Department. I . Recruitment 1. New . Job Bulletin - Personnel has utilized newly available computer-graphics capability to design an expanded, more descriptive announcement specifically for recruitment of Sheriff's Dispatchers. The final copy should be available in February 1989 and will contain new pay rates if agreement has been reached with the employee's representatives, CCCEA, Local No. 1. The announcement will provide a more comprehensive insight into both the job content and the application/selection procedure so that candidates can be recruited in a more realistic context and drop-off rates during selection phases reduced. 2. Revised Distribution of Bulletins - As recommended by your Committee, the DRCC member jurisdictions have been invited to review the current job announcement distribution list utilized by Personnel for Sheriff' s Dispatcher and to suggest additional organizations, individuals or jurisdictions which should be notified. Attached is our letter to the DRCC Chiefs and the recruitment list currentl y in use. We also will solicit suggestions for new recruitment sources. 3. More Frequent Mailings - We believe our recruitment can be improved by replenishing the supply of job announcements available to contacts on our mailing lists on a more frequent basis. We are scheduling regular mailings at 60 day intervals beginning in February 1989. . I • ' I II . Examination 1. Status of Current Candidates - During the period January 24-27, 1989, a total of 110 candidates who previously passed the written and performance test were administered competitive oral interviews. Successful candidates will be placed on the employment list for Sheriff's Dispatcher effective February 1, 1989. 2. Improved Oral Board Content -Personnel and Sheriff' s Department staff have restructured the content of the competitive oral interview utilized to evaluate Sheriff's Dispatcher candidates. The questions are intended to measure dimensions critical to job success including: Motivation, Job Readiness and Interest; Ability to Cope with Stressful Situations; Ability to Deal Tactfully and Courteously with the Public; Judgement and Decision-Making and Verbal Communication Skill . The interview is approximately 25-30 minutes in length and candidates are evaluated by three raters. 3. Restructured Oral Board Composition - Oral interviews for Sheriff's Dispatcher are now conducted by three member panels composed of a Personnel Analyst, a senior member of Sheriff's Department Dispatcher staff and an experienced Dispatcher from a local law enforcement jurisdiction. This composition will replace the previous panels composed of all Sheriff's Department staff which occasionally included non-dispatch employees. All Panels will be given a pre-interview orientation by the Sheriff's Captain in charge of the Communications Division. 4. Typing Certification Required Sheriff's Dispatcher requires a typing proficiency of 25 wpm which has become particularly critical with the advent of computer-aided dispatch. To date, no evaluation of typing skill has been conducted until the final hiring phase. This has resulted in a relatively high failure rate late in the selection process after significant expenditure of time and effort by both the candidate and the County. To improve this situation, instructions are now given to all prospective applicants that they will not be scheduled for any test step unless written verification of 25 wpm typing skill is on file with the County Personnel Department. Information to this effect will be included in the new job bulletin and all applicants who filed subsequent to September 1988 must meet this requirement. We are currently working with the Sheriff's Department to determine whether there should be an increase in the required typing speed. 5. Monthly Written Examinations - Effective February 1989, candidates who have typing certificate on file (see 4 above) will be tested on a regular basis each month. Additional Personnel Department staff time is being allocated for more frequent test administration of smaller candidate groups to speed the movement from initial application filing to final placement on the eligible list. III . Certification 1. Accelerated Removal of Inactive Names - Effective February 1, 1989, the Personnel Management Regulations. have been amended to allow removal of' names after 6 months, rather than 12. (See attached Resolution 89/90 adopted by the Board on 1/17/89) . This provision will assist in maintaining a higher percentage of viable candidates on each departmental referral and should be useful for relieving blockage of the Sheriff's Dispatcher employment list. 2. Senior Sheriff's Dispatcher - On February 2, 1989 a new employment list for this classification containing 13 eligibles will promulgate. If the Sheriff requests to fill all three existing Senior Dispatcher vacancies together, all 13 names can be referred for active consideration. 3. Turnover of Names on Certification - More efficient movement of names from the Dispatcher list to the departmental referral (certification) will be made possible by utilizing a Personnel Management Regulation which permits the removal of a name after a person is considered and not hired five times by the appointing authority. This option can aid in presenting a higher percentage of viable candidates for hire. We have met with the Sheriff's Department and have worked out a method to impl-ement this proposal . 4. Research Project - As a member of the Western. Region Intergovern- mental Personnel Assessment Council (WRIPAC) , the County Personnel Department has joined in a statewide project -with other local jurisdictions to study and evaluate the basis for turnover among dispatch personnel- in law enforcement and to derive more sophisticated measures for recruitment and selection of those persons with a higher probability of job success and retention. The County will actively .screen all new hires in the Dispatcher classification utilizing an in-depth bio-data inventory. This cooperative effort should have positive long-term benefit for all agencies faced with the common problem of dispatcher staff shortages. 5. The Department of Personnel will review the possibility of implementing a band certification process in the future if it appears necessary. RKH:amc • '89 JAN 20 P4 :22 i THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adapted this Order on January 17, 1989 by the fallowing vote: AYES: Supervisors Powers, Fanden, Schroder; McPeak, Torlakson. NOES: None. ABSENT: None. ABSTAIN: None. In the Matter of Amending Personnel Management Regulation 89/ 20 Section 608.2 Cancellation of Eligibility on Continuous Lists The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors Resolves That: 1. Effective February 1, 1989, Section 608.2 Cancellation of Eligibility on Continuous Lists of the Contra Costa County Personnel Management Regulations is. amended to read: 608.2 Cancellation of Eligibility on Continuous Lists The eligibility of any person on a continuous list shall terminate one (1) year following the date on which that person's name was placed on the eligible list, except, as determined' by the Director of Personnel , eligibility on open continuous lists may be terminated six (6) months following the date on which a person's name was placed on the eligible list. I hereby cc:-1'-1,,i a true cnd correct copy of an act!--i :: t::e minutes of the B On JAN 171989 Fi.. .:' . .... it-2 Board ' o: . ` By Deputy cc : County Departments RESOLUTION NO. 89/20 Contra Personnel Department CostaThird Floor, Administration Bldg. I I ;• s ;:�� � bK't`��'� 651 Pine Street ContUa '4 �, Martinez, California 94553-1292 Y }' (415)646-4064 Harry D. Cisterman Director of Personnel January 25, 1989 Dear Chief As you know, the County Personnel Department participated in discussions held by the Board of Supervisors Internal Operations Committee regarding staffing issues at the Delta Regional Communications Center. The Committee has recommended that the D.R.C.C. member jurisdictions be invited to review the current job announcement distribution list utilized by our department for this class and to suggest additional organizations, individual-s or jurisdictions whi-ch should be notified. Enclosed for your information are copies of the current job announcement for Sheriff' s Dispatcher, the Personnel Department's standard announcement mailing lists and law enforcement agency lists developed specifically for use with this recruitment. It will be very helpful to our needs if you will provide the Personnel Department with any additional contacts in the Central. California geographical area where potential Dispatchers might be found. We will include all new addresses you may suggest in our mailing list and insure that each is promptly provided with a copy of our job announcement. We are developing a revised and expanded recruitment bulletin for Sheriff's Dispatcher which will be completed and ready for distribution in March 1989. Application filing will remain open on a continuous basis and future examinations will be conducted on a regular monthly basis beginning in February. Persons with questions regarding any portion of the merit system examination process for Sheriff's Dispatcher may contact Mr. Manuel Ramos of my staff at (415) 646-4050. Thanks for your assistance. Very truly yours, Eileen K. Bitten Manager-Employment Programs RKH:EKB:amc ipme INTERNATIONAL PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION MEMBER ,I�;'ml �mIT' I I I EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY " 'o, ' ( �CIiC ?21LC'(�C'6 �ll�7/1.e2ADMINISTRATION L �GII G' C/�1�6�l�fG/2GZfllGd�P//i ,:�:4#pfy to PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT 651 PINE STREET,MARTIINEBZ,CALIFORNIA 94553 are 415 de 646-4047 SHERIFF'S DISPATCHER $1948 - 2045 - 2148 - 2255 - 2368 THE POSITION The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office encourages the application of individuals interested in on-the-job training to become a fully qualified dispatcher. Positions are found at the department's three communications facilities: the Central Dispatching Bureau in Martinez, Delta Regional Communications Center in Antioch and the Main Detention Facility in Martinez. All facilities operate on a 7-day, 24-hour basis and incumbents may be assigned to any of the three shifts within a 24-hour period. Only candidates willing and able to work all three shifts and holidays should apply for this examination. Sheriff's Dispatchers receive telephone and radio messages, often of an emergency nature, and record and relay the information to such units as patrol cars, fire departments, ambulance units and County Office of Emergency Services. Dispatchers routinely handle a large volume of calls, many of a life-and-death nature, and are responsible for 15-20 Sheriff's patrol units on a daily basis. Individuals appointed to this class will serve a one year probationary period. Promotional opportunities include Senior Sheriff's Dispatcher ($2241-2723) and Sheriff's Communication Center Director ($2767-3363). Dispatchers currently receive a uniform allowance of $25 per month. Shift assignments receive a 5% pay differential above the listed salary. Several positions are designated bilingual (Spanish-speaking) and are paid $40 per month differential. In order to qualify for a bilingual position, candidates will be required to pass a fluency test. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS License Required:. Valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License. Education: Possession of a high school diploma, G.E.D. equivalency or high school proficiency certificate. THE SELECTION PROCESS 1. WRITTEN TEST: A 60-question multiple choice test will be administered to all accepted applicants. Questions will assess each candidate's ability to retain oral information, ability to handle simulated dispatch situations and aptitude for dispatching work. Candidates must attain a score of at least 70, which may be an adjusted score. (Weighted 30%) 2. PERFORMANCE TEST: A performance test will be administered on the same day as the written test and will contain the following segments: 1) an exercise involving copying simulated dispatch information from a tape recording, and 2) an exercise using a detailed street map book of Contra Costa County that measures ability to understand and follow directions and quickly find data. (Combined Weight 30%) 3. ORAL INTERVIEW: Candidates who successfully compete in both the written and the performance test segments will be invited to an oral interview. A Qualifications Appraisal Board will evaluate each candidate in such job-related areas as: ability to make decisions in situations of stress; ability to deal tactfully and courteously .with the public, and ability to speak clearly and distinctly. Candidates must receive a rating of at least 70 from a majority of the board members to rank on the employment list. (Weighted 40%) All candidates considered for final appointment must: 1) undergo psychological testing measuring their ability to work under stress and to adapt to a strict working environment, 2) successfully complete a background investigation that will include reference checks with current and past employers, 3) pass a typing test demonstrating the ability to type accurately at a speed of 25 words per minute, and 4) successfully complete a health examination, which includes hearing and vision tests. Failure to qualify in any of these screening processes may result in removal from the eligible list. CONTINUOUS FILING TESTING SEGMENTS SCHEDULED AS NEEDED OPEN ONLY 7/1/88 - MR Class Code: 64WA SHERIFF'S DISPATCHER AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER... ITIS THE POLICY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY NOT TO DISCRIMINATE BECAUSE OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE OR HANDICAP. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT RECRUITMENT AND EXAMINATION DIVISION i ANNOUNCEMENT MAILING LIST I Al '- County Officials; All County Departments, Locations, Libraries and Fire 8S Stations A2 - General Public Locations in Contra Costa County (Al not included) A3 - General Public Locations in the Greater Bay Area (Al and A2 not included) / S A4 - General Public Locations Outside the Greater Bay Area A5 - Personnel Offices - Counties and Cities in the Greater Bay Area A6 - Personnel Offices - Counties and Cities Outside the Greater Bay Area / Jr A7 - Cities and Counties in the Greater Bay Area (Department to be Designated 7 A8 - Counties and Cities Outside the Greater Bay Area (Department to be Designated 3 A9 - Hospitals in the Greater Bay Area, CCC included (Department to be included A1O - Hospitals Outside the Greater Bay Area (Department to be designated) 304 All - High Schools and Educational Training Programs in the Greater Bay Area (CCC included) 7 Al2 - High Schools and Educational Training Programs Outside the Greater Bay 7 Area B1 - College and University Placement Offices in the Greater Bay Area, CCC included 6 7 B2 - Colleges and Universities in the Greater Bay Area, CCC Included (Department to be Designated) /3 B3 - Colleges and Universities Including Placement Offices Outside the Greater Bay Area (California and Other States Included) 1/C B4 - Community and Jr. College Placement Offices in the Greater Bay Area, CCC included a Q B5 - Community and Jr. Colleges in the Greater Bay Area, CCC incuded (Department to be Designated) /0 B6 - Community and Jr. Colleges Outside the Greater Bay Area RICHMOND: Order additional 30 for open exams Order additional 15 for promotional exams ` ^ CONTRA COSTA COUNTY PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT `. ,`� ` ts.. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OUTREACH RECRUITMENT RESOURCES GENERAL mlN08lTY AND ConMVmlY ORGANIZATIONS ' AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCY CONTACTS ` B10 -iv Hisnanic Community Organizations and Human Services Agency Contacts ' in Contra Costa County Dll - Hispanic community Organizations and Human Services Agency Contacts ` in the Greater Bay Area' a/ , ' 812 - Hispanic Community Organizations and Human Services Agency Contacts Outside the Greater Bay Area � ' Cl - Black Community Organizations and Human Services Agency Contacts in ` Contra Costa County /D C2 - Black Community Organizations and Human services Agency Contacts in the Greater Bay Area C3 - Black Community Organizations and Human Services Agency Contacts Outside the Greater Bay Area C4 - Asian/Filipino Community Organizations and Human Services Agency ` Contacts in Contra Costa County C5 - Asian/Filipino Community Organizations and Human Services Agency Contacts in the Greater 8^y Ara 48 C6 - Asian/Filipino Community Organizations and Human Services Agency Contacts Outside the Greater Bay Area C7 - Native American Community Organizations and Human Services Agency � Contacts in Contra Costa County C8 - Native American Community Organizations and Human Services Agency Contacts in the Greater Bay Area C9 - Native American Community Organizations and Human Services 8«oncv ' Contacts Outside the Greater Buy Area ' � ClO - Women's Community Organizations and Human Services Agency Contacts � in Contra Costa County | Cll - Women's Community Organizations and Human Services Agency Contacts in the Greater Bay Area � C12 - Women's Community Organizations and Human Services Agency Contacts Outside the Greater Bay Area � Dl - Handicapped/Disabled Community Organizations and Human ServicesAgency Contacts in Contra Costa County D2 - Handicapped/Disabled Community Organizations and Human Services Agency �' Contacts in the Greater Bay Area |� D3 - Handicapped/Disabled Community Organizations and Human Services Agency Contacts Outside the Greater Day Area D4 - Multi-Ethnic Client Services Organizations and Human Services Agency Contacts in Contra Costa County D5 - Multi-Ethnic Client Services Organizations and Human Services Agency Contacts in the Greater Bay Area oo - Multi-Ethnic Client Services Organizations and Human Services Agency Contacts Outside the Greater Bay Area ` . D7 - General Community Organizations and Human Services Agencies (Not Necessarily Minorities) in Contra Costa County oo - General Community Organizations Necessarily Minorities) in the Greater Bay Area C14 D9 - General Community Organizations and Human Services Agencies (Not Necessarily Minorities) Outside the Greater Bay Area ` ^ ' — ` , LAW ENFORCEMENT RESOURCE AGENCY 1) Antioch Police Department 301 West 10th St. #757-2236 (bus.) Antioch, CA 94509 #757-2222 (em) 2) Brentwood Police Department 708 3rd St. Brentwood, CA 94513 #634-3558 3) Clayton Police Department P.O. Box 380 #672-4455 (bus.) Clayton, CA 94517 #229-1212 (em) 4) Concord Police Department Parkside and Willow Pass Rd. #671-3232 (bus.) Concord, CA 94519 #671-3333 (em) 5) Contra Costa Sheriff-Coroner Administration Bldg.-7th Floor 651 Pine Street #228-8282 Martinez, CA 94553 #228-8280 6) Danville Police Department 510 La Gonda Danville, CA 94526 #820-4481 (bus.) 7) East Bay Regional Parks 17930 Lake Chabot Rd. #881-1833 (bus.) Castro Valley, CA 94546 #881-1121 (em) 8) El Cerrito Police Department 10900 San Pablo Ave. #237-3233 (Shrfs) El Cerrito, CA 94530 #237-2123 9) Hercules Police Department P.O. Box 156 #724-2677 Hercules, CA 94547 #724-1111 10) Highway Patrol 5001 Blum Rd. Martinez, CA 94553 #685-2171 11) Kensington Police Department 217 Arlington Ave. Kensington, CA 94707 0526-4141 12) Lafayette Police Department 1004 South Thomas Lafayette, CA 94549 r . t 13) Los Medanos College Administration of Justice #83 c/o Sgt, Herman Rellar 2700 East Leland Rd. Pittsburg, CA 94565 14) . Martinez Adult School c/o Pete Robertshaw P.O. Box 832 Martinez, CA 94553 15) Martinez Police Department 525 Henrietta St. #372- 4935 -(bus. ) Martinez, CA 94553 #228-4141 (em) 16) Moraga Police Department 350 Rheem Blvd. #284-5010 Moraga, CA 94556 #376-2515 a 17) Pinole Police Department 2121 Pear St. #724-9600 Pinole, CA 94564 #724-1111 18) Pittsburg Police Department 55 Civic Drive Pittsburg, CA 94565 #439-4980 19) Pleasant Hill Police Department 330 Civic Drive #671-4600 (bus.) Pleasant Hill , CA 94523 #934-7804 20) Richmond Police Department 401 27th St. #231-3390 Richmond, CA 94805 #233-1214 21) San Pablo Police Department #5 Alvarado Square San Pablo, CA 94806 #237-8706 22) San Ramon Police Department 2222 Camino Ramon San Ramon, CA 94583 23) Walnut Creek Police Department 1666 North Main St. #943-5844 Walnut Creek, CA 94596 _#935-6400 .