Police Dispatcher

City of Bell (CA); Bell (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Bell (CA) is seeking a dedicated Police Dispatcher to join our team. We will train the right candidate; you will be the first point of contact in emergencies, facilitating officer support and public safety.

Responsibilities include handling 911 calls, coordinating with patrol units, operating CAD systems, and compiling call data while maintaining calm under pressure. A high school diploma or GED is required, with two years of clerical experience and Spanish bilinguality preferred.

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma or GED.
• Experience: Two years of full-time clerical work with substantial public contact; bilingual Spanish desirable.

Responsibilities

• Receives and responds to 911 calls and dispatches appropriate units.
• Uses CAD and other local, regional or national systems to obtain information for officers.
• Maintains contact with units during emergencies until resolved.
• Operates dispatch computer systems and logs records.
• Provides information on emergency services to the public within policy.
• Ensures compliance with department SOPs.
• Compiles data and prepares reports of calls and dispositions.
• Performs data entry and related clerical tasks.
• May attend public meetings on police/dispatch functions.
• May perform additional duties as assigned.

Skills

Typing 45 WPM

Public contact

Bilingual Spanish

Customer service

Communication

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) systems

Job description

We're looking for a dedicated and detail-oriented Police Dispatcher (we will train) to join our team. As the first point of contact in emergency situations, you'll play a vital role in keeping our community safe and supporting our officers in the field. This is more than just a job - it's a chance to be part of a supportive, mission-driven workplace where your contributions truly matter. We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and a work environment that values professionalism, teamwork, and personal growth.

DESCRIPTION

Performs a variety of duties in support of the City’s emergency systems dispatching operations within the Police Department; evaluates nature of services/information received and determines proper course of action; follows departmental standard operating policies and procedures in carrying out the correct course of action; and performs related work as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Receives and responds to incoming 911 emergency and non-emergency telephone and radio calls; elicits information from callers with respect to the nature of the situation; assesses situation and dispatches appropriate units or equipment to handle emergency and non-emergency calls for assistance.
• Responds to requests from patrol units with respect to a variety of required information; uses computer system to request information from other local, regional or national law enforcement agencies to respond to officer’s requests.
• During emergency responses, maintains contact with local units on assignment and with personnel from other law enforcement agencies until situation is resolved.
• Operates a variety of specialized computer systems in the performance of duties; enters and retrieves data; maintains a variety of logs and records.
• Within established guidelines, provides information on emergency services operations and activities to members of the public.
• Ensures all work-related actions and responses taken are compliant with the standard operating policies and procedures established by the Department.
• Compiles data and prepares reports of calls for service, equipment dispatched, and disposition of calls for assistance.
• Performs data entry, citation entry or other clerical duties.
• May attend public meetings for presentations on police/dispatch functions.
• May serve as matron, performing searches of suspects in custody, and performs related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDELINES

To qualify for this position, an individual must possess a combination of experience, education, and/or training that would likely produce the knowledge, and abilities required to perform the work as follows:

Education:Equivalent to a High School Diploma or GED.

Experience: Two (2) years of full-time clerical experience involving substantial public contact, preferably in a police or fire department. Bilingual in Spanish is highly desirable.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services and activities of a municipal police department.
• Operational characteristics and use of specialized police operations computer applications including computer aided dispatch systems, and local, regional and national criminal justice systems.
• Standard operating policies and procedures used by the Department for emergency and non-emergency response situations.
• Methods and techniques of eliciting critical information from distressed callers in time of crisis.
• Recordkeeping methods and procedures.
• Methods and techniques of conducting searches of individuals in custody.
• Methods and techniques of providing quality customer service to City staff and members of the public.
• Modern office administrative procedures, including the use of standard office equipment.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Federal, State, and local laws, ordinances and regulations related to assigned area of responsibility.

Ability to:

• Speak English and use translation services when necessary.
• Type 45 words or more per minute as verified by a typing test.
• Evaluate the nature of non-emergency and emergency calls and dispatch appropriate units.
• Remain calm, act quickly, and use good judgment in emergency and non-emergency situations.
• Effectively operate computer aided dispatch system rooms, 9-1-1 telephone and radio equipment.
• Read and interpret manuals and codes related to work performed.
• Compile information and maintain records.
• Work a variety of shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Enter and retrieve data from a computer with sufficient speed and accuracy.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Use sound, independent judgment within established policy and procedural guidelines.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

LICENSE, CERTIFICATE, AND REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS:

Some positions require the possession of, or the ability to obtain and retain, a California Class C driver's license by the time of appointment. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a disability or personal choice will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Must successfully complete a 120-hour P.O.S.T. Basic Public Safety Dispatcher course within 12 months of hire.