Meetings
 
 
Print
AGENDA ITEM REPORT

Title: Report on Request to Contract for a Management Fellow in Support of the Public Safety Dispatcher Program
REPORT PROFILE
MEETING DATE
6/28/2012		 BUREAU SUBMITTING THIS REPORT
Training Program Services Bureau
RESEARCHED BY (PRINT NAME)
Bryon Gustafson		 REVIEWED BY (PRINT NAME)
Bob Stresak
REPORT DATE
05/16/2012		 APPROVED BY
Paul Cappitelli		 DATE APPROVED
06/12/12
PURPOSE
Decision Requested		 FINANCIAL IMPACT
Yes

ISSUE:
Should the Commission authorize the Executive Director to enter into a contract with a public or governmental entity for the services of a Management Fellow in support of the Public Safety Dispatcher Program in an amount not to exceed $140,000?
BACKGROUND:
POST has worked to develop training and selection standards to enhance the professionalism of public safety dispatchers for more than 25-years—since it established the 80-hour Public Safety Dispatcher Course in 1985. In recent years POST has expanded its commitment to meeting the needs of public safety dispatchers and raising the bar through creation of the Public Safety Dispatcher Advisory Council (PSDAC), addition of a PSDAC representative to the Instructor Standards Advisory Council (ISAC), and addition of a PSDAC representative to the Commission’s Advisory Committee. Each of these actions has supported POST’s mission to enhance the professionalism of law enforcement in serving its communities.
ANALYSIS:

Over the past 18 months, POST, in conjunction with its public safety dispatcher stakeholders and advisory groups, has focused on expanding in-service training and development opportunities for public safety dispatchers. This has been accomplished through the creation of a Public Safety Dispatcher Unit within the Training Program Services Bureau that was staffed by a retired annuitant. Primary activities included expansion of the Instructor Development Institute to include dispatcher-specific offerings (approved by the Commission in February 2012) and development of pilot courses such as "The Public Safety Dispatcher’s Role in Officer Safety" and "Handling “In-Progress” Calls and Active Shooter Incidents" that have been well-received.

 

These enhancements are slated to begin “full scale” in July and there is a need for a skilled public safety dispatcher professional to coordinate the various components to develop a full-service program. Staff presented a concept for a Public Safety Dispatcher (PSD) Management Fellow to the PSDAC at its March 2012 meeting. PSDAC members were unanimously supportive of the concept and developed a list of ideal qualifications for a PSD Management Fellow including:

  • 5 years or more of dispatching experience

  • Experience as a dispatcher supervisor

  • Recent field experience

  • Experience as a trainer (communications training officer (CTO) or instructor)

  • Evidence of continuing professional development

  • Facilitation skills and experience

  • Understanding of POST selection and training regulations

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills

  • Willingness to travel

Staff proposes development of a Request for Applications (RFA) that will establish minimum and preferred qualifications for a PSD Management Fellow. Thereafter, the RFA would be advertised with stakeholder agencies in the POST program. Interested candidates would apply in conjunction with their agency (i.e., an applicant candidate would have to be approved/sponsored by the agency that POST would contract with for the candidate’s services). Staff has estimated maximum costs for the management fellow position not to exceed $140,000 as follows:

 

PSD Management Fellow Cost Estimate

Itemized Costs

Basis

Annual

CHP PSD Supervisor II (top step)

$5,958/month

$71,496

Benefits estimate

35%

25,024

Housing (if needed)

$1,500/month

18,000

Indirect

20%

22,904

Total (1 year)

$137,424

 

Staff recommends developing an RFA to identify and contract for a management fellow in support of the Public Safety Dispatcher Program for one year.
RECOMMENDATION:
If the Commission concurs, the appropriate action would be a motion to authorize the Executive Director to enter into a contract with a public or governmental entity for the services of a Management Fellow to support the Public Safety Program in an amount not to exceed $140,000.
 
ATTACHMENT(S):
Name: Type:
No Attachments Available