Dispatcher II/III (Lateral Transfer)

County of San Luis Obispo; San Luis Obispo (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The County of San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office is actively seeking experienced Lateral Dispatchers at Dispatcher II/III. You will monitor, receive, and dispatch routine and emergency radio communications to patrol units and partner agencies.

You will operate a CLETS terminal, document calls, and prepare reports, while assisting the public and coordinating unit availability and location. Candidates must meet the minimum qualifications, complete background screening, and may be required to train

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; dispatcher experience preferred.
• Dispatcher II requires 1 year of relevant work experience with radio/telecom equipment.
• Dispatcher III requires 1 additional year as Dispatcher II or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Monitor, receive, and dispatch routine and emergency radio communications to patrol units and other agencies.
• Secure and record information about incidents and determine location and availability of units.
• Operate a CLETS terminal and maintain required logs and reports for public safety use.
• Provide information and assistance to the public and support dispatch operations.

Skills

Radio communications

Data entry

CLETS system

Public safety dispatch

Education

High School Diploma or GED

P.O.S.T. Dispatcher Certification

Tools

CLETS

Radio equipment

Job description

The Sheriff's Office is recruiting to fill positions with experienced Lateral Dispatchers at the Dispatcher II/III level. As a Dispatcher, you are responsible for monitoring, receiving, and dispatching routine and emergency radio communications to and from Sheriff's patrol units and other law enforcement or public safety agencies. To effectively accomplish these tasks, you will be involved in securing and recording information as to the nature of a reported problem and identifying the exact location. You will be operating a CLETS (California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System) computer terminal to obtain or verify information and maintaining required logs of calls and incidents. Additionally, you will prepare reports, provide information and assistance to the public, and determine availability and location of patrol units to dispatch. The County of San Luis Obispo's Sheriff's Dispatch Center provides coverage to San Luis Obispo, as well as the surrounding areas including Morro Bay and Arroyo Grande.

This is a continuous recruitment and will remain open until filled.

This recruitment may be used to fill future permanent, substitute, limited term, and temporary positions, both full-time and part-time.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

A combination of education, training, and experience resulting in the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes:

• Sheriff's Dispatcher I: Graduation from high school or possession of a General Education Development (GED) Certificate.
• Work experience receiving information and simultaneously performing data entry is desirable.
• Sheriff's Dispatcher II: In addition to the above, one year of relevant work experience, including the use of radio, telephonic, or automatic communication equipment.
• Sheriff's Dispatcher III: In addition to the above, one year of experience as a Dispatcher II or equivalent.

Licenses and Certificates

Sheriff's Dispatcher II: Must possess P.O.S.T. Public Safety Dispatcher certification at time of appointment.

Sheriff's Dispatcher III: Must obtain a P.O.S.T. Communication Training Officer Certification within twelve months from date of appointment.

PER COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO CIVIL SERVICE RULES A CANDIDATE MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR A LATERAL TRANSFER:

• The class in which employment is contemplated is closely related and comparable in duties and minimum qualifications to the class in which the individual holds permanent status.
• The individual must have been employed by the other public agency within one year prior to the date of his or her application to the County.
• The individual was appointed to the class in which he or she holds permanent status from an eligible list resulting from an open competitive or promotional examination which meets the standards of the County.
• There must be written information submitted by the other public agency and on file with the Commission confirming the individual's permanent status and containing the following statements:
  • The employment record of the individual has been entirely satisfactory;
  • The individual has not been separated, nor is he/she being considered from separation, due to fault or delinquency on his/her part.
• The individual may be required to take and pass an oral examination as administered by an oral board as provided in Rule 7.02.
• The individual shall meet the medical requirements as provided in Rule 8.
• The names of such individuals shall be placed on the open eligible list in the order of their approval and shall follow any names which may already appear on the eligible list.

An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews.

Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process.

If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at [e-mail]. Confidential inquiries are welcomed.

For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at www.slocounty.ca.gov.

Below please find additional information about the position for your review:

Schedule

A new shift starts every January, May and September. About six weeks before, shift pick is conducted where dispatchers, by seniority, select from days, cover or nights, and within those choose their days off and hours. Dispatchers work 12 hour shifts and often are required to work overtime.

Work Assignments & Training

The probationary period is one year and comprised of approximately four to six months of one-on-one training with daily and weekly evaluations, and the remainder is OJT (On the Job Training). During this time the trainee is solely responsible for their duty stations and will receive bi-weekly evaluations.

A Successful Dispatcher

• Thrives in a frequently negative environment; sees, hears and reads things that are sad, disgusting and disturbing; talks with parents and other family members who may get upset and angry about their case or circumstances.
• Effectively organizes and prioritizes their workload continually throughout the shift amid competing distractions.
• Demonstrates they are a productive member of the work team and have a positive, can-do attitude.

Other Conditions of Employment

Employees in this class will be required to work weekends, holidays and irregular hours.

Character

Good moral character as determined by a thorough background investigation, including a fingerprint and record check.

Background Check

To accept a position with the Sheriff's Office, you must successfully complete a Sheriff's Background Investigation. Below is a partial list of offenses or issues that may disqualify you from successful completion. Please review the below list:

• Any felony conviction
• Recent misdemeanor conviction, or any two misdemeanor convictions as an adult
• Poor employment history
• Any sale, manufacture, or cultivation of illegal drugs
• Recent use of illegal substances such as opiates, hallucinogens, injectables, cocaine, methamphetamine, or similar substance
• Poor driving record such as numerous hazardous traffic violations or chargeable accidents
• Recent conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, or any two convictions for this offense as an adult
• Any act of domestic violence, as defined by law
• Any crime committed against a child
• Behavior or derogatory remarks constituting discrimination or bias toward others based on their race, religion, gender, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other protected class
• Any material misstatement of fact or intentional omission of information during the application or background process