Police Communication Dispatcher (Excellent Pay and Benefits)

Town of Los Gatos; Los Gatos (CA); On-site; USD 72,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent benefits

Job summary

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Two years of general office experience.
• Ability to pass a full Police Administrative Background clearance, including fingerprinting, polygraph, and medical exam.
• Availability to work irregular hours and report on short notice.

Responsibilities

• Answers calls to the Police Department’s emergency and non-emergency lines.
• Operates telephone, radio, and telecommunications equipment.
• Obtains essential information from reporting parties about the nature of the emergency.
• Determines response requirements and priorities of situations.
• Determines closest available and most appropriate unit and dispatches police, fire, medical aid, rescue, and hazardous calls.
• Provides communications support to units in the field.
• Enters, updates and monitors information for each emergency and non-emergency event.
• Maintains logs and files; researches information in computer systems.
• Maintains security of sensitive materials.
• Remains alert during long shifts and busy periods.

Skills

Active Listening

Speaking

Coordination

Critical Thinking

Judgment/Decision Making

Under Pressure

Job description

Police Communication Dispatcher

$51.9841 - $66.93 per hour

Plus excellent benefits.

The Los Gatos Monte Sereno (LGMS) Police Department is dedicated to serving and protecting the community with professionalism, integrity, and compassion. We seek a Police Communication Dispatcherwho is equally committed to providing the highest quality of service to our community, can work independently with minimal supervision, multitask, and thrive in a fast-paced work environment.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Communication Dispatchers receive and prioritize emergency and non-emergency calls from the public, operate various communications equipment, dispatch police units, refer calls to the appropriate jurisdiction, and perform other related work as required.

Communication Dispatchers receive on-the-job training to become fully proficient in working a solo shift without assistance. Within the established guidelines, the Communications Dispatcher exercises independent judgment on the potential loss of life or property under emergency conditions.

Communication Dispatchers must work various shifts associated with 24-hour, 365-day operations, including weekends and holidays.

This position is a non-exempt classification represented by the Town Employee Association (T.E.A.). The full job description for the Police Communication Dispatcher is available here.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Provide exceptional customer service, interact effectively and sensitively with individuals from diverse backgrounds, and communicate clearly and effectively.
• Work well under pressure, exercise good judgment, and make sound emergency decisions.
• Quickly obtain critical information, assess the urgency of calls, prioritize calls, and provide communications support to units in the field.
• Operate emergency dispatch and communication equipment, including radio, telephone, and computers.
• Enter, update, and monitor information such as time assignment, en-route time, arrival, clearance, and other related information for each emergency and non-emergency event.
• Interpret, explain, and enforce policies and procedures.
• Maintain confidentiality and security of sensitive information.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Learn the town's geography, including streets, public buildings, landmarks, businesses, and medical facilities.
• Answer non-emergency questions and provide information to the public.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Town of Los Gatos and the City of Monte Sereno have a combined population of about 34,000 residents who enjoy a high quality of life with a low crime rate. The LGMS Police Department is budgeted for 39 police officers and 21 civilian personnel and has over 50 community volunteers. The members of the LGMS Police Department work hard to provide a full range of services. They are committed to providing residents, businesses, and visitors with the highest quality of service, and are proud of the relationships with the community. Members of the LGMS Police Department solidify those relationships through partnerships, collaboration, and individual contacts.

ABOUT THE TOWN

The Town of Los Gatos is a general law city operating under the Council/Manager form of government. The Town Manager and Town Attorney are appointed and directly report to the Town Council. The Town’s 150 full- and part-time employees are organized into the following departments: Parks & Public Works, Community Development, Police, Library; and Administrative Services. The Town’s fiscal year 2026/2027 General Fund budget is $78.8 million.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Answers calls to the Police Department’s emergency and non-emergency lines.
• Operates telephone, radio, and telecommunications equipment.
• Obtains essential information from reporting parties about the nature of the emergency.
• Determines response requirements and priorities of situations.
• Determines closest available and most appropriate company and dispatches police fire, medical aid, rescue, and hazardous material calls.
• Provides communications support to units in the field.
• Enters, updates and monitors information such as time assignment, en-route time, arrival, clearance, and other related information for each emergency and non-emergency event.
• Enters information into computer terminals; enters control codes and searches files to research and provide information.
• Monitors location and verifies safe status of public safety and other specified Town personnel.
• Answers non-emergency questions, provides information to the public and refers nonemergency calls to other resources.
• Maintains access to and the security of highly sensitive materials. Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Telecommunications: Knowledge of transmission and operation of telecommunications systems.
• Communications: Knowledge of communication and dissemination techniques and methods.
• Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective public safety operations for the protection of people, property, and data. Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar.
• Customer Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting service standards and evaluating customer satisfaction.
• Clerical: Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems, such as word processing, managing files and records, transcription, use of forms and other office procedures and terminology.
• Law and Government: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, and agency rules.
• Geography: Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of lands, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations and interrelationships.

Skills:

• Active Listening: Giving full attention to what others are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate and avoiding inappropriate interruptions.
• Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
• Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Monitoring: Assessing performance of self and others to make improvements or take corrective actions.
• Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
• Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the impacts of potential actions to make the most appropriate choices.
• Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Ability to:

• Use good judgment and clear thinking during stressful situation.
• Operate police radio console and receive radio calls from mobile units and other agencies.
• Receive telephone calls from the public; relay emergency ambulance and fire calls to County dispatch center; make telephone calls for field units.
• Operate telecommunications terminals to access County, State, and National law enforcement data systems; interpret responses for field units.
• Maintain effective and efficient radio communications with officers in the field and other law enforcement agencies.
• Dispatch Town personnel from other departments (e.g., Parks and Public Works, Community Development), as needed.
• Maintain written logs and files; enter calls for service into Police Department computer. Maintain street maps, address, and business files.
• Recall detail, including the ability to accurately recreate events, conversations, or readings and to record those recreations in written and/or oral form.
• Interpret and apply oral or written material/instructions, including the ability to listen to or read abstract or directive instructional material and to apply that data correctly to practical circumstances.
• Remain alert and engaged for long periods of time.
• Take action or to decide between alternative courses of action under routine, highly stressful difficult conditions.
• Remain alert at varying hours after scheduled rest or to remain alert during extended periods of an emergency or unanticipated nature.

WORKING CONDITIONS / PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Employees must be able to maintain physical condition necessary for sitting for prolonged periods of time; repetitively use fingers and/or wrists while twisting or applying pressure; maintain concentration and the capability to make sound decisions; maintain effective audio/visual discrimination and perception to the degree necessary for the successful completion of assigned duties.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Employees work indoors in a computerized office environment 100% of the time, in direct contact with members of the Department and other Town staff, outside agency personnel and the public.

REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying.

• Graduation from high school or equivalent.
• Two years of general office experience.
• Availability to work irregular hours and to report to duty on short notice.
• Ability to pass a full Police Administrative Background clearance, including fingerprinting, polygraph, and post-offer medical exam.

Work Experience Substitution: Successful completion of the California Commission on POST 120-hour dispatcher academy may be substituted for the two years of general office experience.

POST Dispatcher OR CritiCall Pre-Employment Test Requirement

To be considered for this career opportunity, applicants must submit with their application an official POST Dispatcher test score that demonstrates verbal, reasoning, memory, and perceptual abilities. View Critical test information and upcoming test dates in the South Bay here. Applicants are responsible for any associated test fees, and must contact the testing agency directly to schedule.

Background Requirements

The selected candidate must pass an extensive background investigation, including criminal history, credit check, drug screening, medical clearance, psychological evaluation, polygraph, fingerprinting, professional reference check, and other security vetting, and maintain all required clearances as condition of employment.

TESTING PROCESS

The testing process may include, but is not limited to a phone interview, a personal history questionnaire, an oral panel interview, and an interview with the Chief of Police.

The Town of Los Gatos is an equal-opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. The Town of Los Gatos is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us at [phone] or at [e-mail].