Police Department Front Counter​/Phone Operator

Salary : $44,516.16 - $62,655.84 Annually
Location : City of Alameda (Alameda Police Department), CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number:
Department: Police Department
Opening Date: 03/11/2026
Closing Date: 3/25/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Bargaining Unit: ACEA
Max Number of Applicants: 50
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Nature of Position

Under general direction, manages incoming calls, greets visitors, directs inquiries and performs clerical tasks; maintains building entry security as required; does related work as required.
Distinguishing Features

Work in this class is characterized by customer service oriented activities, ensuring that phones are being answered and routed accordingly, citizens are greeted and resources are utilized to meet their needs. Incumbents must meet the administrative abilities including clerical tasks and record checks with outside agencies.
Examples of Duties

The following list of duties is intended only to describe the various types of work that may be performed and the level of technical complexity of the assignment(s) and is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties. The omission of a specific duty statement does not exclude it from the position if the work is consistent with the concept of the classification or is similar or closely related to another duty statement.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Essential Duties

Answers all incoming calls; connects those asking for a known extension or party as requested; determines nature of inquiry or problem in cases where calling party is unclear as to whom they wish to speak to and directs the call to the appropriate department and/or person.

Ensure the front desk is open to the public during normal operating hours.

Greets persons entering the main lobby, assess their needs and directs appropriately.

Assists public with record report intake forms.

Collaborate with colleagues to facilitate release of property and vehicles, background checks, tow hearings, etc. and ensure appropriate paperwork is completed and filed.

Cooperation with other agencies to ensure timely delivery of records and/or reports.

Performs routine typing, filing, reporting and other clerical duties as required.

Other Duties:

Performs related duties as assigned

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Indoor office environment
• Working in a confined space for extended periods of time
• Use of protective clothing such as gloves to handle property
• Work with citizens of the public who may be hostile and/or offensive

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Sitting and standing for extended periods of time.
• Walking and bending to perform tasks
• Hand and finger dexterity to operate office equipment and filing

Employment Standards

Education/Experience
Any combination equivalent to education and experience likely to provide the required knowledge and abilities. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education:

Graduation from high school or equivalent.

Experience:

One (1) year experience performing administrative and/or clerical work or customer service.

Knowledge
Knowledge of modern telephone and office equipment for answering calls and tasks such as scheduling, data entry, reporting; understanding of office procedures including filing systems, document management and office equipment operation; customer service principles including how to engage with clients, visitors and employees in a courteous and professional manner.

Ability
Ability to do routine clerical work; have attention to detail; think and act quickly using good judgment during emergency conditions and knowing when to escalate issues to higher management; meet and maintain effective relationships with the public while under pressure and trying circumstances requiring poise, tact, courtesy and maturity of judgment; handle calls quickly and efficiently to keep incoming calls flowing continuously;

prioritize tasks effectively to ensure smooth office operations especially when dealing with multiple responsibilities simultaneously; work independently; communicate effectively including the use of good diction, clear enunciation and necessary voice modulation to be heard and understood.
For Benefits information, please visit our website at: A detailed summary for this position can be found under ACEA.
01

An irate customer comes to the front desk demanding their parking ticket be dismissed. After youexplain the protocol this person should follow, they continue to make demands. At this point, pleasedescribe how you would handle this situation?
02

You come into the office today and the front desk is relatively quiet. There have only been a fewphone calls coming in and no customers have visited the front desk. How do you stay productiveduring this down time?
03

Please read and review the job description for this position. Below, describe your work experience and why you are qualified for this job.
Required Question