Course Number:
AOJ 158
Course Title:
Public Safety Dispatcher
Semester Units:
7
Semester Hours:
7 hours lecture: 112-126 hours, 0.5 hour lab: 8-9 hours, 224-252 outside-of-class hours, 344-387 total hours
Prerequisites:
None
Corequisite:
None
Recommended Preparation:
None
Catalog Description:
Methods and operation of law enforcement and public safety communications. The course will include federal communications regulations, data retrieval systems and applications in communications. Students will analyze data to determine priorities for making decisions under stress. This course is offered on a Pass / No Pass basis only.
Note:
Course Objectives
Instructional Facilities:
Standard classroom with multimedia technology, Computer lab.
Special Materials Required of Student:
Electronic storage media.
Course Content:
The role of the dispatcher, Legal aspects of emergency dispatching, Telephone procedures, Radio procedures, Stress and wellness management, Automated information systems, Mechanics of radio broadcasting, Job application procedures, Professional orientation and ethics, Criminal justice system, Introduction to law, Workplace communications, Telephone technology and procedures, Missing persons, Domestic violence, Cultural diversity, hate crimes, gang awareness, mental health, and community policing, Child, elder and dependent adult abuse, Law enforcement telecommunications, Radio technology and procedures, Resource and referral services, Critical incidents.
Method of Instruction:
Lecture, Demonstration and application of emergency call documentation.
Methods of Evaluating Student Performance:
Attendance (POST requirement), Classroom participation in hands-on activities, Quizzes, written exams–midterm/final.
Outside Class Assignments:
Outside reading assignments from the textbook and supplementary workbooks. Practice typing mock incidents and scenarios to increase typing speed and improve writing. It is recommended that the student spend one 4-hour shift with an emergency dispatch agency.
Texts:
Required Text(s): Lotero, Melissa Emergency Dispatch Operator Workbook, 2018 ed. Self-Published.
Supplementary texts and workbooks:
None.
Addendum:
Student Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this course, students will be able to recall radio codes, identify capabilities of electronic and micro-processing equipment, and perform proper telephone interview techniques for accurate information collection.
Date approved by Governing Board:
December 13, 2019
