Public Safety Dispatcher/Jailer

City of Lodi; Lodi (CA); Presencial; USD 60.000 - 78.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

The City of Lodi Police Department is seeking an entry-level Dispatcher/Jailer to handle 9-1-1 and public safety calls and participate in the screening and processing of prisoners. The role includes booking, searches, fingerprinting, and daily custodial care within the jail environment.

Candidates should be prepared for a competitive examination, with details provided in the job posting and supplemental questionnaire.

Formación

• Equivalent to high school education.
• One year of public safety dispatching experience or two years of general clerical experience involving public contact with emphasis on customer service.

Responsabilidades

• Receive 9-1-1 and non-emergency public safety calls and determine priority.
• Assist in processing and handling prisoners, including booking, searches, fingerprinting, and maintaining custody.
• Provide administrative support to the dispatch center and coordinate with supervisory and management staff.

Descripción del empleo

The City of Lodi Police Department is accepting applications for entry-level Dispatcher/Jailer

This position will, at times, require you to process and handle prisoners including, but not limited to: booking of arrested persons; performing searches; taking inventory of prisoner's property; fingerprinting; and administering breath tests where applicable; monitoring the activities of prisoners in City detention facilities; providing daily care of prisoners including feeding and medicating; maintaining and enforcing custodial facility regulations of the jail.

The examination process will consist of a competitive evaluation of qualifications based on a review of the Application and the Supplemental Questionnaire; therefore, it is to your advantage to provide as much detailed and relevant work experience as possible, as a resume will not be accepted or reviewed in lieu of the application materials.

EXAMINATION

Tentative Exam date: December 3, 2026 - only those applicants that meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery.

POST regulations do not allow testing more than one time in 30 calendar days, therefore, if you have taken the California POST Entry Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery with another agency within 30 calendar days prior to the scheduled test date you are unable to participate in our examination. However, you may submit a copy of your t-score (48.0 or higher) on issuing agency letterhead by the time of the written examination in lieu of taking the examination with the City of Lodi. If you are submitting a T-score, with a score of 48.0 or higher, issued within the past 12 months (December 3, 2025 – December 3, 2026), from another California law enforcement agency or academy in lieu of taking the written examination with the City of Lodi, you must submit it by 5:00 p.m., December 3, 2026.

Scores may be submitted as follows:

• email to [e-mail]
• fax to [phone]
• mail delivery to: City of Lodi Human Resources PO Box 3006 Lodi, CA 95241

Score must be received NO LATER THAN 5:00 PM ON December 3, 2026.

T-scores dated outside the window period will not be accepted.

DEFINITION

Under general direction, receives 9-1-1 police, fire and medical emergency calls, answers non-emergency calls for public safety and other City departments using independent judgment in often sensitive situations; performs a variety of non-sworn office duties in support of law enforcement activities; assumes responsibility for the processing and handling of prisoners.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED AND RECEIVED

Receives general direction from the Dispatch Supervisor and other assigned staff. May also receive direction from the Lead Dispatcher/Jailer.

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

Under general direction, receives 9-1-1 police, fire and medical emergency calls, answers non-emergency calls for public safety and other City departments using independent judgment in often sensitive situations; performs a variety of non-sworn office duties in support of law enforcement activities.

Answers emergency and non-emergency telephones and conducts interviews with callers to determine the nature of call, priority and appropriate response and/or action and dispatches police, fire or other emergency units as necessary and in accordance with established guidelines.

Maintains contact with all units on assignment; maintains status and location of police field units; coordinates emergency calls and relays information and assistance requests involving other public safety agencies.

Enters, updates and retrieves information from computer networks relating to wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration and other information; answers all incoming phone calls; screen calls and routes as appropriate; waits on public.

Processes and handles prisoners including, but not limited to: the booking of arrested persons; performing searches; taking inventory of prisoner's property; fingerprinting; and administering breath tests where applicable; monitors the activities of prisoners in City detention facilities; provides daily care of prisoners including feeding and medicating; maintains and enforces custodial facility regulations of the jail.

Provide a variety of staff and administrative assistance related to the dispatch center; work with supervisory and management staff to resolve issues related to dispatch; perform special projects as assigned including research and scheduling training opportunities and developing dispatch related policies and procedures.

Perform other duties related to the operation of the department and the City including additional duties that enable the department and City to meet the diverse needs of its community.

Knowledge of:

Operational characteristics of modern public safety telecommunications equipment including computer aided dispatch systems and multi-channel radio systems; operation of communication equipment, computers, and peripheral equipment including related software; geographic features and boundaries.

English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; computerized data entry and retrieval systems used in dispatch communication and operations.

Generally accepted office practices and procedures and of standard office equipment including personal computers.

First Aid and CPR procedures.

Ability to:

Under general direction, receives 9-1-1 police, fire and medical emergency calls, answers non-emergency calls for public safety and other City departments using independent judgment in often sensitive situations; performs a variety of non-sworn office duties in support of law enforcement activities.

Learn City dispatch codes, policies and procedures; memorize codes, names, locations and other detailed information; attend to multiple activities and sources of input simultaneously during stressful situations; work under pressure to obtain complete and accurate information from individuals who during emergency situations may be emotionally distraught, angry or difficult to understand; remain calm, analyze and evaluate emergency situations as required to prioritize calls and to anticipate/determine the needs of responding personnel.

Admit and supervise prisoners including physically escort/direct or restrain and control combative prisoners in the jail by the use of restraint techniques and handcuffing procedures.

Effectively operate the computer-aided dispatch system, display terminals, radio dispatching consoles, and associated equipment; read and interpret street maps;

Type at a speed necessary for adequate job performance; compile and maintain complex and extensive records and files.

Work various shifts as assigned. (New Hires are required to work the graveyard shift)

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted during the course of work.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination equivalent to experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge's and abilities would be qualifying. A typical combination is:

Education:

Equivalent to the completion of high school.

Experience:

One year of public safety dispatching experience or two years of general clerical experience involving public contact with emphasis on customer service.

Environment:

Work is performed in an office and emergency services dispatch center setting with extensive public contact; incumbents are required to work evening, night, weekend, and holiday shifts; incumbents may be called back or held over to maintain staffing levels.

Physical:

Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office and emergency dispatch center setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Vision:

See in the normal visual range with or without correction.

Hearing:

Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

• FLSA Status: NON-EXEMPT

Evaluation of Qualifications:

Application materials and resumes will be screened to determine if applicants are considered to be among the most qualified as outlined on the job announcement. Only applicants who are among the most qualified will be invited to participate in the testing process. Resumes may not be substituted for a completed application.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The City of Lodi is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of fair employment practices regardless of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, sex or sexual orientation, marital status, age, mental or physical disability or perceived disability, medical condition, pregnancy, political affiliation or belief, or other unlawful discrimination.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACT

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the City of Lodi provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations must contact the Human Resources Division upon application submittal to confirm the request.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND INFORMATION

City of Lodi is authorized and required by the state of California to access Local, State, and/or Federal criminal history has part of the testing process. This process can be completed by initial fingerprinting and/or a full Background investigation pursuant to Penal Code §11105(b)(10), §11105.3, §13300(b)(10); Education Code §10911.5; Public Resources Code §5164) and in compliance with the City of Lodi's Fingerprinting Policy and Procedure. As a future employee or volunteer, you are required to be fingerprinted and processed through the Department of Justice and cleared before you can start. All information obtained will be kept in strict confidentiality.

HIRING PROCEDURE

Applicants must possess the minimum qualifications by the final filing date. Eligible lists are established upon successful completion of the selection process. The candidates must be successful in each part of the testing. To fill each vacancy the hiring department will request names to be certified from the eligible list and will make a selection from this certification list.

CONDITIONAL JOB OFFERS

Conditional job offers are subject to successful completion of a medical drug screen and/or physical. Candidates should not quit or give notice to their current employer until final notification has been awarded by the Human Resources Division.

MEDICAL-DRUG SCREENING

All positions may be subject to a physical or drug screen issued by a qualified medical physician assigned by the Human Resources Division. Under the requirements of the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988, the City of Lodi has been designated as a drug-free workplace.

APPOINTMENT

At the time of appointment all candidates will be required to execute an oath of allegiance and complete Form I-9 - Employment Eligibility Verification in compliance with the Immigration and Naturalization Act. United States citizenship is not required. All new appointees are required to successfully complete a probationary period of twelve months.

EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

• Salary - The starting salary is the first rate shown on the job announcement. Advancement to the higher steps of the salary range is based upon merit in accordance with the Salary Ordinance and Rules for Personnel Administration. Eligibility for the first merit increase is effective after 12 months and for additional merit increases after one year intervals until the employee has reached the maximum step.
• Holiday, Vacation, Sick, and Administrative Leave - Holiday - An average of 12 paid holidays per year. Vacation - 2 weeks paid vacation annually, increasing with length of service depending on the appropriate labor agreement. Sick Leave - 10 days per year depending on the appropriate labor agreement.
• Health Insurance - Medical, Dental and Vision plans are available for employee and dependents. A portion of the premiums may be the employee's responsibility.
• Life Insurance and Long Term Disability - The City pays the full premium for employee and dependent life insurance, and offers a long-term disability plan that provides up to approximately 2/3 of an employee's salary.
• Retirement and Deferred Compensation - The City of Lodi is a member of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). Lodi is not a member of the Social Security System except for the required medical contribution. Employees may participate in a 457 Deferred Compensation program.
• Flexible Spending Account - Employees may participate in a Section 125 Flexible Spending Account.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This bulletin does not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provisions or job duties contained in this bulletin may include modifications pending labor agreements and/or council approval.