Dispatcher I (Dispatcher Recruit)

Dispatcher Recruit

To receive incoming telephone calls and dispatch police units as necessary for assistance; perform a variety of general support duties related to communications activities.

This is an entry level class in the Dispatcher series. Incumbents of this class are trained in department policies, procedures and systems through on-the-job training. Generally, work is observed and reviewed both during performance and upon completion. Dispatcher Recruit is distinguished from the Dispatcher I classification in that it is a training classification.

Immediate supervision is provided by a Dispatcher III. Technical or functional supervision may be provided by a Dispatcher II or Dispatcher III.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Receive emergency and non-emergency telephone calls from the public requesting police, fire, and local government service; determine nature and priority; dispatch units as necessary; and / or refer or transfer callers to ensure excellent customer service. Maintain radio contact with all units on assignment. Coordinate emergency calls and relay information and assistance requests involving other law enforcement and firefighting agencies. Query information from law enforcement communication networks relating to wanted persons, criminal history, stolen property, and Department of Motor Vehicle information. Query and enter stolen, stored, and repossessed vehicle information. Perform a variety of records keeping duties related to the computer aided dispatch system. Test and inspect equipment as required. Testify in court as needed. Prepare written responses or reports related to communication complaints, investigative follow-ups or police reports. Write daily work progress reports when training a new Dispatcher. Demonstrate professionalism, courtesy, empathy, and excellent customer service in accordance with departmental policy and the community-oriented policing concept. Other related duties may also be performed; not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual holding this classification.

Qualifications

Knowledge of :

• English grammar, usage, spelling and punctuation.

Ability to :

Experience and Education

High school diploma or GED equivalent and completion of twelve (12) units from an accredited college or university.

AND

One (1) year of customer service experience and successful completion of the Sacramento Police Department's Basic Dispatch Academy within the last twelve (12) months.

High school diploma or GED equivalent

AND

Four (4) years of customer service experience and successful completion of the Sacramento Police Department's Basic Dispatch Academy within the last twelve (12) months.

Proof of Education

Should education be used to qualify for this position, then proof of education such as, but not limited to, university / college transcripts and degrees should be submitted with your application and will be required at the time of appointment . Unofficial documents and / or copies are acceptable.

An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credentials evaluation service. Evaluation of education records will be due at time of appointment.

Probationary Period :

Employees must complete eighteen (18) months of probation at a satisfactory performance.

The Selection Procedure

Please note, the City of Sacramento's preferred method of communication with applicants is via e-mail. As such, please ensure you verify the e-mail address on your application, and check your e-mail frequently, including your spam and junk folders. All e-mail notifications can also be accessed through the governmentjobs.com applicant inbox. 1. Application : (Pass / Fail) All applicants must complete and submit online a City of Sacramento employment application by the final filing deadline;

If applicants do not list current and past job-related experience in the duties area of the "Work Experience" section. Note : Qualifying experience is based on 40 hours per week (pro-rated if less than 40 hours / week).

2. Online Dispatcher CritiCall Exam : (Pass / Fail) - Candidates must have taken and passed the Dispatcher CritiCall Examination by 11 : 59 p.m. on October 31 , 2025 for further consideration. Candidates can access the examination at any time by visiting the City of Sacramento's Examination's website : https : / / www.cityofsacramento.gov / HR / employment

The online Dispatcher CritiCall examination may test your ability to :

A Dispatcher CritiCall Examination study guide is available for your reference on the City of Sacramento's Applicant Resources Page at : https : / / www.cityofsacramento.gov / HR / employment

The exam is fully compatible with the latest version of Chrome, Edge, and Firefox. Safari users will have to follow the onscreen instructions after clicking the test link for enabling the auto-play function within the Safari browser