Dispatcher - Entry Level

City-of-Fountain-Valley,-Ca; Fountain Valley (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4/10 schedule

CalPERS retirement benefits

Long-term disability insurance

11 paid holidays

Job summary

The City of Fountain Valley is seeking entry-level dispatchers to serve as the vital link within our Police Department. You will manage emergency call intake, dispatch police and fire resources, and provide real-time information to field personnel.

Structured four-phase training will prepare you for independent dispatch duties. Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED, a typing speed of 50 WPM, and complete the NTN ECOMM exam.

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school or GED equivalent.
• At least one year of clerical or dispatch-related experience recommended.
• Typing speed of 50 WPM or higher with certificate required.

Responsibilities

• Receive and process emergency calls and dispatch police/fire personnel.
• Maintain records of service requests and actions taken.
• Monitor radio transmissions and coordinate resources in real time.
• Ensure safety of field personnel and correct unit assignments.

Skills

Dispatch experience

Typing 50 WPM

Public safety awareness

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

NTN ECOMM

Job description

MORE THAN A JOB - AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE, GROW AND MAKE AN IMPACT

JOIN THE FOUNTAIN VALLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT

Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis.

First Review of Applications: August 3, 2026

THE CITY OF FOUNTAIN VALLEY:

The City of Fountain Valley is nestled in the heart of Orange County. With approximately 60,000 residents, we are a mid-sized full-service Police Department that proudly serves our wonderful community with courage, duty, and commitment. With City events like our Summerfest and National Night Out, we actively participate alongside community members to build a safe and vibrant City. The City of Fountain Valley is only 7 miles from the beach with countless restaurants, entertainment venues, shopping centers, and Disneyland within a 15-mile radius of the City.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT:

The Fountain Valley Police Department's mission is to demonstrate; 1) Courage to protect life and property in our community; 2) Duty to provide the highest quality of service in a fair, impartial and ethical manner; 3) Commitment to take a leadership role in providing public safety and quality of life in a manner that will preserve the public trust.

JOIN DISPATCH: BE THE FIRST RESPONDER

The City is seeking dedicated individuals to fill the Dispatcher - Entry-Level position. This role serves as the vital, life-saving communication link within our Police Department. Operating under the leadership of a Lead Dispatcher or Watch Commander. You will manage high-stakes emergency call intakes, process critical data, dispatch the rapid deployment of police personnel, and coordinate fire resources through MetroNet. This role delivers indispensable support to our field personnel, ensuring every officer operates with the real-time information and backup necessary to protect the community and return home safely.

EXCELLENT BENEFITS INCLUDE

• 4/10 schedule
• An incredible retirement / pension: CalPERS (2%@60 for Classic or 2%@62 for PEPRA)
• Flex dollars for CalPERS medical HMO/PPO plans
• Matching deferred compensation contribution (up to $225 per month)
• City-paid long-term disability insurance
• Generous leave accruals
• 11 paid holidays, including one floating holiday

JOB DUTIES:

• Receive and process emergency calls for police and fire protection services or information; promptly and efficiently dispatch personnel and equipment to accident, rescue, and emergency scenes.
• Analyze requests for police service; determine priority ranking of each request and the kind and level of service to be dispatched in initial response; and determine available units to dispatch.
• Listen to each radio transmission from police personnel in the field; acknowledge and comply with request for action or information.
• Maintain awareness of position of each police unit and activities in which personnel are engaged; check periodically with personnel to verify position and activity; supply back-up personnel; and take other appropriate steps to provide for the safety of field personnel.
• Maintain detailed records of each service request, each action taken, and the time each action was taken.
• Operate dispatch equipment and computer equipment.
• Input and retrieve a variety of public safety information using a computer; enter, update, and retrieve information regarding wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, stolen vehicles, and other information.
• Notify ambulance personnel, alarm company, traffic and signal maintenance, and other related personnel concerning emergencies.
• Maintain knowledge of the geography, street locations, and landmarks in the City and a general knowledge of the geography and landmarks of surrounding cities.

EDUCATION:

• Graduation from high school or GED equivalent.

EXPERIENCE:

• At least one year of clerical or other related experience involving contact, heavy telephone/dispatch experience and some use of independent judgement. Public Safety experience is highly desirable.

HIGHLY DESIRABLE

• Possession of a current typing certificate demonstrating a net typing speed of 50 WPM or higher.
  • Applicants must attach a valid typing certificate that was issued within the past twelve (12) months and must clearly identify the applicant's name, typing speed (WPM), and accuracy percentage.
  • Typing certificates may be obtained online through platforms such as Ratatype: Ratatype - Online Typing Test or through the Official Typing Test: Official Typing Test.

UPON HIRE, YOU WILL BEGIN A STRUCTURED FOUR-PHASE TRAINING PROGRAM

To set our dispatchers up for long-term career success, the department provides a highly structured, comprehensive training program. The Communications Training Program is a structured four-phase program lasting approximately six to seven months. During this time, Communications Training Offers (CTOs) provide daily instruction, coaching, and evaluations. Training may be extended based on individual progress and performance.

• Phase One focuses on call-taking customer service, and emergency/non-emergency call handling.

• Phase Two introduces CLETS, radio operations, and increased independence in handling calls and computer systems.

• Phase Three emphasizes radio dispatching, incident prioritization, multitasking, and independent decision-making.

• Phase Four serves as a final evaluation period to assess the trainee’s ability to perform all dispatcher duties independently.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:

• Ability to work evenings, holidays, weekends, irregular hours, and variable shifts.
• Normal vision and hearing acuity.

REQUIRED WRITTEN EXAMINATION:

Entry-Level candidates who meet the qualifications must fulfill the testing criteria to be considered:

• NTN ECOMM Exam: Candidates must complete the ECOMM (Emergency Communications) written exam and computer simulation through the National Testing Network (NTN) within 12 months of the application date. Candidates are required to pay the testing fee directly to NTN. You may visit the NTN website at https://www.nationaltestingnetwork.com for more information regarding test dates/sites.
• P.O.S.T. Waiver Option: Candidates who have completed their P.O.S.T. Entry Level Dispatcher test within the last 12 months may waive the NTN ECOMM exam. You must attach your official scores to your online application. A minimum T-score of 45 is strictly required.

ALL REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH YOUR APPLICATION AND ECOMM EXAM COMPLETED IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FURTHER FOR THIS RECRUITMENT. CANDIDATES THAT HAVE APPLIED WITHIN SIX (6) MONTHS TO THE PREVIOUS DISPATCHER RECRUITMENT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THIS RECRUITMENT.

SELECTION PROCESS:

The selection process may include one or more of the following: application review, written test, performance exam, and/or oral interview examination. The employment application and supplemental questions will be evaluated based on the employment standards and minimum qualifications listed above

IMPORTANT RECRUITMENT INFORMATION:

All employment offers made by the City are contingent upon establishing proof of a prospective candidate's legal authorization to work in the United States and successfully completing all components of the pre-employment process which may include but is not limited to: reference checks, background investigation, credit check, California Department of Justice (DOJ) criminal history check (Live Scan fingerprinting), polygraph, psychological evaluation, post-offer drug test and post-offer medical examination.

The City of Fountain Valley is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. Candidates with a disability who may need accommodation during the selection process must notify the Human Resources Department at least 72 hours in advance of the exam date.

NOTE:

The provisions of this job bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provisions contained within may be modified or revoked without notice.