Sheriff's Dispatcher II

Contra Costa County; Martinez (CA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Opportunities for career advancement

Impact on community safety

Training and support programs

Job summary

Contra Costa County is seeking experienced law enforcement dispatchers for the Sheriff's Dispatcher II classification in Martinez, California. The role involves responding to emergency and non-emergency calls, maintaining communication with patrol units, and ensuring effective dispatching operations.

Applicants must possess a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License and either one year of relevant dispatch experience or completion of the Dispatcher I Training Program. Strong communication and multi-tasking skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Must possess a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License.
• Minimum typing proficiency of 40 words per minute.
• Minimum one year of dispatch experience or relevant training.

Responsibilities

• Receive and dispatch emergency and non-emergency calls.
• Maintain radio communication with patrol units.
• Assist in the training of new dispatchers.

Skills

Ability to communicate clearly

Multi-tasking abilities

Decision making

Handling stress

Education

High school diploma or G.E.D.

California P.O.S.T. Basic Dispatch Certificate

Job description

Position

The Office of the Sheriff is recruiting experienced law enforcement dispatchers to fill positions in the Sheriff's Dispatcher II classification. Sheriff's Dispatchers are assigned to the Communications Center located in Martinez, California. The facility operates on a 7‑day, 24‑hour schedule. Dispatchers receive incoming emergency and non‑emergency calls; determine appropriate response; prioritize and dispatch units; enter and retrieve information from teletype networks and computerized data systems; maintain radio communication with 15‑20 patrol units; provide additional dispatch services to fire departments, medical units and the County Office of Emergency Services. Weekend, holiday and overtime work is required. All overtime is compensated at 1‑1/2 times regular hourly rate.

We Are Looking For Someone Who

• Is able to act promptly, logically, and decisively
• Has the ability to communicate clearly
• Is able to read, comprehend and retain information
• Will maintain a calm and professional demeanor even under stressful situations
• Has the ability to adapt to changing situations
• Possess multi‑tasking abilities
• Is highly self‑motivated
• Will display a high level of integrity

What You Will Be Responsible For

• Receiving routine and emergency telephone calls
• Answering questions from the public
• Receiving and transmitting radio traffic
• Using computer‑aided keyboard and data entry equipment or manually recording and relaying information (often of an emergency nature) to appropriate field units such as patrol units, other police agencies, fire departments, ambulance companies, the County Public Works Department and the Office of Emergency Services
• Receiving, transmitting, and recording teletype and data systems messages
• Dispatching from a mobile command center or a mobile command vehicle, as requested
• Assisting with Communications Training Program and providing on‑the‑job training to new dispatchers

Reasons to Love This Job

• You will make a direct impact on the public and Contra Costa County residents through your work
• You will have the ability to demonstrate your moral and ethical decision‑making skills
• You will utilize your fact‑finding abilities to identify needs, make decisions and address issues
• You will grow your career with many opportunities for advancement within Contra Costa County

Challenges in This Job

• You must remain calm to effectively handle high‑stress situations
• This position requires that you are careful about details and thorough in completing tasks
• You will need to maintain composure when faced with callers in aggressive, angry, or emotional situations
• You will need to make quick decisions and act promptly, often without knowing the entirety of the situation

Competencies Required

• Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job
• Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self‑control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable high‑quality, timely, and cost‑effective results
• Leading the Organizational Culture: Driving the organization’s culture through establishing and enforcing norms and/or behaviors in addition to processes
• Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner
• Managing Performance: Ensuring superior individual and group performance
• Visionary Leadership: Taking a long‑term view and building a shared vision with others; acting as a catalyst for organizational change
• Handling & Resolving Conflict: Managing interpersonally strained situations
• Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing

Minimum Qualifications

License Required: Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License. Out of State valid Motor Vehicle Operator's License will be accepted during the application process.

Education: Possession of a high school diploma, G.E.D. equivalency or high school proficiency certificate.

Experience: One year of full‑time or its equivalent experience within the last two (2) years performing law enforcement emergency dispatch duties on a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) System at a California P.O.S.T. participating law enforcement agency; or successful completion of the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office Dispatcher I Training Program within the last 3 years.

Typing Proficiency: Accurately type at a speed of no less than 40 words per minute.

Certificate Required: Possession of a California P.O.S.T. Basic Dispatch Certificate.

Other Requirements

Must pass a thorough background investigation, medical screening, and psychological evaluation prior to employment.

Conviction History

After a conditional job offer, fingerprinting is required. The resulting report of your conviction history (if any) will be used to determine whether the nature of your conviction conflicts with the duties and responsibilities of the position.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

It is the policy of Contra Costa County to consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or other protected category under the law.