How To Become A Police Dispatcher In California

Public Safety Dispatcher Faqs

What is the Public Safety Dispatcher position?

Public safety dispatchers at the UCLA Police Department are full-time, non-sworn employees who, along with other tasks, receive emergency and non-emergency calls for service for law enforcement, fire, and medical aid incidents, and dispatch the appropriate law enforcement, fire, or medical aid personnel, as needed. Please see the POST website for additional information on selection standards at:

Do I have to have prior experience as a Public Safety Dispatcher to apply?

No prior experience is necessary. What the applicant must be able to show is a stable work history that shows reliability, honesty, good work ethics and the ability to adapt to a changing environment.

Will you hire me if I have been arrested or convicted of a crime?

Each applicants circumstances are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. However, felony convictions will make you ineligible. It is possible to be considered for employment with a prior, non-felony arrest and/or conviction.

Am I eligible to be hired if I experimented with drugs a long time ago?

Again, each applicants circumstances are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. It is possible to be considered for employment with prior drug use.

What is the hiring process?

You must:

What Is A Police Dispatcher

A police dispatcher responds to distress phone calls. They coordinate and direct emergency personnel to areas where their services are needed. Also, they review burglar and fire alarms as well as monitor video surveillance. A police dispatcher alerts law enforcement officers, paramedics, or firefighters as the case may be. Not just this, but they also provide drivers licenses and warrant information to other police officers. You have to put in data, update and recover data from computer systems. The minimum education requirement for this role is a high school diploma. Excellent customer service and communication skills are key skills needed for this role. It is also essential that you understand police techniques and procedures. In addition to this, you should have comprehensive knowledge about radio dispatch controls and protocols. You may be required to write and pass a civil service examination to qualify. Averagely, a police dispatcher earns an annual salary of $49,660.

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Lead Public Safety Dispatcher

Under direction, incumbents act in a lead capacity to direct the activities of dispatchers and to perform the more difficult dispatch tasks and duties as required develop, implement, and audit special procedures and protocols.

Incumbents may have responsibility for coordinating a shift assign, monitor, and check the work of dispatchers train, direct, and audit dispatchers in the performance of their duties develop and maintain records prepare reports on communications center activities interface with sworn supervision to resolve specific problems and accomplish goals review current and propose new procedures to enhance the performance of the operation record information on the performance of dispatchers and recommend disciplinary or commendatory action compile training and operational manuals assist in the coordination and operation of special law enforcement events address and resolve citizen complaints compose correspondence identify and coordinate the need for communications equipment repairs.

Incumbents may supervise one shift of several dispatchers or multiple shifts with one or two dispatchers.

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Lesson : Fight At Martini Ranch

Release Date:

6/1/2020

This is a one-hour lesson in which the dispatcher will listen to a 9-1-1 call where a fight is occurring at a popular bar in their city. As a result of the fight at least one person is stabbed, and the scene is chaotic. Dispatchers will use a computer to read through the lesson and learn best practice in interrogating callers reporting such an incident. The lesson addresses the need to determine the exact location of the victim transferring the caller to a secondary PSAP for Fire/EMS if within agency guidelines caller, responder, and scene safety ascertaining if weapons are present obtaining a suspect description and travel route and controlling the interview.

How Do I Know If A 911 Dispatcher Career Is For Me

A career as a 911 dispatcher is fast-paced, hectic, and above all else, rewarding. As a part of a chain of emergency responders, dispatchers are the faceor the earof emergency calls to 911. It takes a remarkable person to do a dispatcher’s work, and it is not suited to everyone. Are you considering a career as a 911 dispatcher? Before you apply for a dispatcher position, you should decide if emergency services dispatching is right for you. Keep reading because we have taken the guesswork out of your decision by compiling a list of truths about the job so you can better understand if a 911 dispatcher job is right for you.Dispatching Jobs are Difficult to Get

To qualify to apply for a 911 dispatcher job, you must meet a number of requirements.

• High school diploma/GED or higher education depending on the service

• Speak excellent and clear English and be able to write it as well

• Be a proficient problem solver

• Knowledge of city, state, and federal laws, regulations, and legal codes

• Have experience in transcription and word processing

• Be familiar with the geographical service area, which includes the names of waterways, roads, and highways

• Have excellent communication skills

Dispatchers Take Lots of Phone Calls

Dispatchers Undergo Intensive Training

After you are hired as a 911 dispatcher, you will need to undergo training.

911 Dispatchers are Busy

Dispatchers Are on Guard While Listening

Sometimes Dispatching is Hard

Dispatchers Often are Puzzle Solvers

A Final Note

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Do You Have What It Takes To Be One Of The Finest

Thank you for your interest in employment with the Pasadena Police Department. You are taking the first step in what could lead to an exciting and rewarding career with a World Class law enforcement agency. We are looking for committed and conscientious people to serve in both sworn and non-sworn positions. The following is the hiring process for becoming a Police Specialist V also known as a dispatcher.

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Lesson : Attempted Kidnapping & Roommate Homicide

Release Date:

6/1/2021

This one-hour training helps prepare dispatchers to handle calls in which a person reports an attempted kidnapping and a roommate homicide. In the first section, a caller reports she was just escaped from her kidnapper and is now on a city bus. The section addresses:

– Best practices for 9-1-1 salutations.

– Following the questioning technique guideline.

– Controlling Interviews.

– Obtaining the caller’s attention.

– Scene safety.

In the second section, a male 9-1-1 caller reports that his roommates just murdered someone. This section addresses:

– 9-1-1 callers who have difficulty providing a precise address.

– Obtaining callback numbers.

– Asking one question at a time.

– Utilizing calming techniques on distressed 9-1-1 callers.

– Visualizing the scene of the emergency.

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Fire And Police Dispatch Job Training

Many emergency call centers hire 911 operators with a high school diploma or GED. Some agencies may prefer that candidates have college experience though it may not be required, earning college credit can prepare prospective dispatchers to work with the various databases and software suites used in emergency response. However, nearly all police dispatcher positions require candidates to have at least one or two years of customer service experience, preferably in a fast-paced telecommunications environment. Those who wish to pursue police dispatcher jobs should also have above-average typing speeds without compromising accuracy.

Once hired, 911 dispatchers should expect to be in training for up to 18 months as they learn how to use their agencyâs emergency communications systems to respond to calls quickly and effectively. As part of this training, new operators will learn the basics of first respondersâ capabilities in order to understand how to prioritize and route personnel. Police dispatchers will learn basic first aid with a focus on being able to walk callers through performing CPR and similar life-saving measures when necessary. Training for fire and police dispatch jobs will also include learning how to operate a teletype machine in order to be able to take calls from the hearing impaired.

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Lesson 1: Bloodborne Pathogens

Release Date:

10/1/2021

This one-hour lesson helps prepare 9-1-1 dispatchers to handle calls involving bloodborne pathogens. It addresses:

– The need to advise public safety personnel immediately if a caller divulges the presence of or exposure to a bloodborne pathogen.

– Following agency guidelines regarding the method by which the information is relayed to the responders .

– The bloodborne pathogens of greatest concern to law enforcement officers.

– Identifying situations where law enforcement officers may face exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

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Lesson 1: Eyewitness Identifications

Release Date:

This one-hour training helps prepare 9-1-1 dispatchers for calls involving eyewitness identifications. It addresses:

– How stress or fear can negatively affect a persons ability to provide accurate descriptions/identifications.

– The importance of following the recommended guideline when attempting to obtain the description of a suspect especially when a caller is in distress.

– How the visible presence of a weapon during an encounter negatively affects memory for faces and identification accuracy because witnesses tend to focus their attention on the weapon instead of on the face or appearance of the perpetrator.

– The need to avoid using suggestive wording and leading questions during an interview and to make sure that inquiries are specific, direct, and clearly worded.

– Factors about a witness or a witnessed event that might contribute to a witness misidentification.

– Factors that might increase or decrease a witnesss reliability.

A Day In The Life Of A Home

A work-from-home dispatcher may be miles away or halfway around the world, but they can manage a group of truck drivers via phone.

Dispatchers are experts in spreadsheets, real-time maps, and Skype or other messaging platforms.

As a truck dispatcher, your day would likely involve tasks such as:

Generally speaking, a trucking dispatcher must decide on the most efficient and most cost-effective loads for all the trucks on the team.

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How To Become A Fire And Police Dispatcher: Career And Salary Information

Generally, 911 operators are civilian personnel providing support services to sworn first responders. However, as this is a sensitive position that includes access to police systems, prospective police dispatchers should expect to complete a background check through the local police department, which typically includes polygraph and psychological exams.

Police and fire dispatchers, also known as 911 operators and dispatchers, play an important role in emergency and non-emergency response in cities across the US. Police and fire dispatchers provide customer service answering calls to 911 and arranging for appropriate responses from city services. In some jurisdictions, police and fire dispatchers may also be responsible for answering and dispatching non-emergency service calls, such as animal control and city utilities. In large cities, the duties of police and fire dispatchers and 911 operators may be separate a 911 operator will take the call and enter notes into the system to be routed to an emergency dispatcher, and then the dispatcher will coordinate the appropriate response with available police, fire, and ambulance personnel. Police and fire dispatch jobs can be stressful, but can also be highly rewarding. Career Description, Duties, and Common TasksPolice dispatchers answer calls to 911 and collect as much information as possible regarding the emergency or issue before dispatching the appropriate response personnel.

Assistant Public Safety Dispatcher

Under general supervision, incumbents perform the majority of the duties of the Public Safety Dispatcher position in a trainee capacity. Receipt, handling, and disposition of calls is monitored by incumbent, and all record keeping is audited by supervisors. Incumbents perform telephone operation/assistance and other office duties as assigned. Incumbents are expected to progress to the level of Public Safety Dispatcher after successful completion of Peace Officers Standards Training POST)and on-the-job training.

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Education And Training For 911 Dispatchers In California

Each emergency dispatch agency has its own certification and 911 operator training standards. Throughout California, emergency dispatchers receive training or hold additional certification through these agencies:

• Public Safety Dispatchers Basic Course
• Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Certification
• Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials Certification
• Emergency Medical Dispatch Certification
• California Fire Chiefs Association Communications Section Certification
• Fire Dispatch Training Certification
• Radio Training Program Certification

From disrupting terrorist attacks and mass shootings, to responding to hostage situations and executing high-risk warrants, the increased focus that Californias state and municipal law enforcement agencies have been placing on tactical training and response capabilities is more important than ever. Public safety dispatchers in the state play a vital role in supporting critical incident commanders in these high-stakes situations. The dedicated public safety dispatchers that work as part of Public Safety Tactical Dispatcher Teams to provide support for critical incident operations participate in specialty training through the California Association of Tactical Trainers :

• SWAT Tactical Dispatcher Course
• Advanced Tactical Dispatcher Course

A professional background and/or degree major in the following areas are directly relevant to the 911 dispatcher job description in California:

Course Description And Attendance Requirements

The course includes fundamental principles, procedures and techniques of law enforcement, including: Ethics and Professionalism, Criminal Justice System, Workplace Communication, Telephone Technology and Procedures, Missing Persons, Domestic Violence, Community Policing, Cultural Diversity, Law enforcement Technologies, Radio Technologies and Procedures, Critical Incidents, Wellness Management, Gang Awareness, Hate Crimes, Sexual Harassment, and an overview of many other legal aspects of public safety.Bakersfield College adheres to POST attendance requirements. POST requires that students maintain a 95% attendance standard in this course. Students may be disqualified from the Basic Dispatch Academy if they have been cumulatively absent for more than 5% of the course or if the absences have not been deemed “excusable” by staff.

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Meet The Requirements For Becoming A San Diego 911 Dispatcher

The basic requirements for SDPD or Fire-Rescue Dispatcher I positions are as follows:

• U.S. Citizen/Legal Resident, over 18, high school diploma or GED
• Excellent data entry capabilities
• Able to hear, comprehend and summarize audible data while typing
• Able to remember verbal communications
• Capable of using maps and quickly locating information
• Capable of evaluating data and making quick decisions
• No felony or domestic violence convictions

The ability to communicate in Spanish, Korean, Arabic, Farsi, Somali, Chinese, Indochinese or Tagalog is highly desirable. SDPD dispatchers work 10-hour shifts, four days/week Fire-Rescue operators work either 10- or 12-hour shifts. Dispatchers answer 50-170 calls per shift.

Dispatcher II positions require six months experience as a Dispatcher I in San Diego OR one years experience as a law enforcement or fire department dispatcher elsewhere.

Department Of Emergency Management

DEM manages San Francisco’s every day and not-so-everyday emergencies. DEM also helps everyone in San Francisco know how to prepare for emergencies, and what to do to be safe during one.

The first 72 hours of a disaster are the most critical. Be prepared.

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Lesson : Implicit Bias

Release Date:

This 9-1-1 dispatcher training course:

– Defines implicit bias.

– Explains how implicit bias can exist in everyone, including members of the public, dispatchers/call-takers, and individual law enforcement officers, and is not a personal defect.

– Addresses how the brain can produce biased decision-making, even when one does not intend to be biased.

– Examines the concept of profiling by proxy.

– Addresses how bias-motivated calls can pit the police against the public in potentially dangerous confrontations.

– Considers how implicit bias could affect the perceptions of witnesses and callers.

Lesson 1: Flash Flood & Baby Found In Stolen Car Calls

Release Date:

12/1/2020

This is a one-hour lesson in which the dispatcher will listen to two 9-1-1 calls, the first involves receiving a 9-1-1 call reporting that several people are stranded and injured after a flash flood suddenly came over a waterfall into a popular state park wading area. The second 9-1-1 call involves a resident waking up to a strange car in his driveway. Once he goes outside he notices that his car is gone, and the strange car has an infant inside it. Both 9-1-1 calls present a challenging scene that the dispatcher must work through. Dispatchers will use a computer to read through the lesson and learn best practice in interrogating callers reporting such incidents. The lesson addresses the need to determine the exact location of the victim transferring the caller to a secondary PSAP for Fire/EMS if within agency guidelines caller, responder, and scene safety ascertaining if weapons were present the need to obtain suspect description information and routes of travel and controlling the interview.

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A Solution For Your Entire Agency

PLS online continuing education training for police officers, 9-1-1 dispatchers, and correctional officers:

• Is available 24/7.

• Is user-friendly and easy to administer.

• Satisfies some state-specific continuing education requirements.

• Helps satisfy some CALEA training standards.

• Helps reduce staffing shortages and overtime expenses.

• Provides detailed training records for trouble-free management.

• Challenges and reinvigorates experienced dispatchers, officers, and jailers.

• Is used by many managers as the basis of an ongoing training and quality control program.

Contra Costa Sheriff Ca

*As of July 1, 2019$75,164.04 – $89,187.12 20% pay increase over 4 year period effective 07/01/2019

$3,000 Hiring Bonus for Laterals

Email for upcoming application dates.

The Position

The Office of the Sheriff is seeking men and women interested in an exciting and challenging career in dispatching. Prior experience is not required. Sheriffs Dispatchers perform a full range of radio and telephone duties. They receive, assess, prioritize and classify calls for service on a variety of emergency and non-emergency phone lines, including 911, from a population totaling 450,000 residents in 12 police jurisdictions. They also dispatch calls for service to police units, process computer inquiries and other requests for units in the field, and accurately track the activities of multiple police units.

Applicants selected as Sheriffs Dispatcher I undergo six weeks of intensive classroom instruction on topics such as radio codes, phonetic alphabet, criminal law, call-taking, and Computer Aided Dispatch system. This is followed by 8-12 weeks of live call-taking and if successful, 3-4 months of live radio training under the supervision of a Communications Training Officer. Upon successful completion of the training process, they are promoted to Sheriffs Dispatcher II.

Typical Tasks

• Work well in a fast-paced team environment

Testing Process

Veterans’ Preference Credits

Salary & Benefits

Application Process

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