Communications Dispatcher Lateral

9-1-1 Dispatcher

The Santa Rosa Police Department is looking for experienced 9-1-1 dispatchers. Our 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Center is located on the second floor of the Public Safety Building, equipped with a state-of-the-art computer-aided dispatch system, including multiple monitors, ergonomically designed furniture, and individual work stations with outside window views. The Communications Center is staffed by a team of 23 dispatchers working 10-hour shifts, handling approximately 250,000 calls for service yearly. Supervision is provided by Communications Supervisors. In addition to a competitive salary, retirement through CalPERS, and a generous benefits package, this position offers opportunities for special assignments which include trainer, administrative and tactical dispatcher, with incentive pay from 2% - 7.5%. The benefits of city employment include health, dental, vision and life insurance, a generous retirement program, a competitive leave accrual package and holiday leave bank.

The City of Santa Rosa is committed to building a workforce reflective of our community and establishing a lasting culture of equity and belonging within our organization. Our collective talents and expertise contribute to high-quality public services that support a vibrant, resilient, inclusive City for our community and visitors. We celebrate a diverse workforce and welcome all qualified candidates to apply.

In order to qualify for a lateral assignment applicants must complete a City application and Supplemental Questionnaire online and must meet the following minimum experience requirements : one year of full-time work as a 9-1-1 public safety law enforcement dispatcher with a law enforcement agency independently performing the full range of call-taking and radio dispatching duties within the last five years (excludes time in a Trainee status). If you have been unsuccessful in a previous background investigation process (including psychological assessment) with the Santa Rosa Police Department, your application will be screened on a case-by-case basis to determine if you will proceed further in the selection process.

The City of Santa Rosa is committed to building a workforce reflective of our community and establishing a lasting culture of equity and belonging within our organization. Our collective talents and expertise contribute to high-quality public services that support a vibrant, resilient, inclusive City for our community and visitors. We celebrate a diverse workforce and welcome all qualified candidates to apply.

Essential duties include performing a variety of disparate duties simultaneously and accurately, receiving, triaging, and processing emergency and routine calls from the public requesting police or other emergency service, interrogating callers to determine pertinent information, accurately tracking the status and location of police units, and using a Computer Aided Dispatch system to enter pertinent response information and unit status data. Additional duties may include arranging for tow trucks and public works emergency service, operating and maintaining the audio recording device, performing a variety of record keeping, filing, and other general clerical work, monitoring surveillance cameras, and providing general instruction to new employees.

Knowledge of standard radio or telephone communications receiving and transmitting equipment, standard broadcasting procedures and rules, operation of common radio dispatch equipment, public safety classification codes, and basic provisions of the California vehicle and penal codes is required. Ability to speak and hear clearly and precisely on the telephone, on the radio, and in person, exercise good judgment and make sound decisions in emergency situations, effectively communicate with and elicit information from callers, multitask sufficiently to perform a variety of disparate tasks simultaneously and accurately, effectively work independently with a minimum of supervision, work as part of a team, understand the geographic features and streets of the City of Santa Rosa sufficiently to deploy field units efficiently, use a computer aided dispatch system, various computer software applications, and other office equipment quickly and accurately, provide general instructions and assistance to new dispatchers, type at least 35 wpm, and satisfactorily complete the Continuing Professional Training requirement set by P.O.S.T., California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training is required. Education equivalent to completion of the twelfth grade is required.