MEETING DATE
6/26/2014 |
BUREAU SUBMITTING THIS REPORT
Administrative Services Bureau |
RESEARCHED BY (PRINT NAME)
Rosanna McKinney and Darla Engler |
REVIEWED BY (PRINT NAME)
Stephanie Scofield |
REPORT DATE
04/28/2014 |
APPROVED BY
Robert A. Stresak |
DATE APPROVED
06/10/14 |
PURPOSE
Decision Requested |
FINANCIAL IMPACT
No
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| ISSUE: |
| Should the Commission amend Regulation 1011: Certificates, subject to the Notice of Proposed Regulatory Action process, to add Dispatcher Supervisory Certificate to the POST Professional Certificate Program as enumerated in this report? |
| BACKGROUND: |
In April 1990, the Commission adopted the Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate program. In September 2006, a proposal was made to establish intermediate and advanced professional certificates for dispatchers. This proposal was approved by the Commission in October 2006, and included a continuing professional training requirement of 24 hours every 24 months.
Based on a training needs assessment conducted in 2008, a Dispatcher Supervisory Course was developed and implemented in 2011, through the South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium. In 2013, Golden West College began presenting the class in southern California.
In March 2013, the concept of a Dispatcher Supervisory Certificate was vetted with the Public Safety Dispatcher Advisory Council (PSDAC). The PSDAC approved the concept of adding a Dispatcher Supervisory Certificate to the POST Professional Certificate Program and endorsed one of the requirements be the completion of a POST certified Public Safety Dispatcher Supervisory Course. In May 2013, this proposal was vetted and supported by the POST Leadership Team. |
| ANALYSIS: |
Criteria for a Dispatcher Supervisory Certificate provides a benchmark to assure agencies that the dispatchers awarded the certificate have completed required training, demonstrated proficiency by completing a probationary period, and required experience. While there are a number of POST-certified supervisory courses available, a specific Dispatcher Supervisory Course was developed and presented by South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium beginning in February 2011. It is specifically designed for the dynamic and fluid environment of a communications center. The course is now offered in both northern and southern California, and aids in enhancing the level of professionalism for public safety dispatchers and supervisors. It has been well received and provides dispatch supervisors a variety of skills in leadership, ethics, and conflict management similar to those in the peace officer supervisory courses. Attainment of the Dispatcher Supervisory Certificate will be partly predicated on completion of a POST-certified supervisory course or the Dispatcher Supervisory Course.
The addition of a Dispatcher Supervisory Certificate to the existing Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate Program will require a change in Commission Regulation 1011 (c) to provide authority. The procedure of submitting an application to POST for consideration will remain the same as with other POST professional certificates. Current application(s) will be revised to accommodate the addition of the new certificate and a new certificate template has been developed.
Attachment A is Regulation 1011, amended to include 1011(c)(6) Dispatcher Supervisory Certificate Award Requirements, and some non-substantial language updates throughout the regulation. Attachment B-1 is POST form 2-289, Certificate Application – Public Safety Dispatcher, revised to include the Dispatcher Supervisory Certificate, B-2 is POST form 2-116 - Certificate Application and B-3 is POST form 2-117 - Certificate Application-Records Supervisor, both with minor, non-substantial changes. Attachment C is POST form 2-250, Request for Reissuance of POST Certificate, also revised to include the Dispatcher Supervisory Certificate. Attachment D is a sample of the Dispatcher Supervisory Certificate, which mirrors other POST professional supervisory certificates. |
| RECOMMENDATION: |
| Staff recommends that the Commission approve the amendments to Commission Regulation 1011, subject to the Notice of Proposed Regulatory Action process, to add a Dispatcher Supervisory Certificate to the POST Professional Certificate Program as enumerated in this report. |
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