Sheriff's Emergency Services Dispatcher

Job Summary

Join Our World-Class Team!

The Sheriff's Office is hiring experienced individuals for the position of Sheriff's Emergency Services Dispatcher.

We are looking for people who are capable of taking command of situations in a sensitive and straightforward manner while showing consideration and respect to others. The Sheriff's Communications Center provides the highest quality professional public safety services to the residents of San Diego County.

Sheriff's Emergency Services Dispatchers are trained to respond to 9-1-1 emergency and non-emergency calls and are responsible for dispatching deputies in the field. This requires a candidate who can assess accurately, make quick decisions and use good judgment to ensure safety of patrol deputies.

THIS POSITION IS ELIGIBLE FOR APPOINTMENT AT STEP 1, $70,990.40 ANNUALLY.

County employees are subject to the County Promotion Rule for Step Placement in Accordance with Compensation Ordinance 1.3.5.

Future Salary Increase

** June 2026 – 6.03% increase to base pay (3.5% Across-the-Board + 2.53% Market Adjustment)

** June 2027 – 5.53% increase to base pay (3% Across-the- Board + 2.53% Market Adjustment)

The Communications Center is centrally located in Kearny Mesa and is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Applicants must be willing to work any/rotating shifts, on holidays or weekends.

Learn more about Sheriff's Emergency Services Dispatchers HERE.

Sheriff's Emergency Services Dispatchers are responsible for handling both 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls and are responsible for dispatching deputies in the field over the radio.

Employees may be assigned training or lead roles that are eligible for premiums below:

• Eligible employees shall be paid an additional $2.50 per hour to provide training to newly hired staff in the areas of telephone and radio communications in the Sheriff's Communication Center.
• Eligible employees shall be paid 10% of their base pay when assigned as a lead dispatcher. Furthermore, employees receiving the lead premium shall not be eligible to receive the Sheriff's Dispatcher Training Premium.

***This hard-to-recruit position qualifies for the Employee Referral Reward Program. If a current County of San Diego employee referred you to apply for this position, please indicate the employee’s name on your job application in the space provided. ***

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
1. One (1) year of progressively responsible full-time experience as a Public Safety Radio Dispatcher for a municipal law enforcement or fire agency within the last three (3) years and experience must include use of a Computer Aided Dispatch system and 9-1-1 emergency and non-emergency call taking. Previous experience must have included the successful and verifiable completion of a radio training program administered by that agency;
OR,
2.Successful completion of the Phones and Inquiry training phases of the Sheriff's Emergency Services Dispatcher Program administered by the San Diego County Sheriff's Department AND at least ten (10) months of full-time experience as a Sheriff's Emergency Services Dispatcher Trainee

For more detailed information including about this job classification including the working conditions, click here.

**Sheriff's Emergency Services Dispatcher Trainee is the entry-level position to Sheriff's Emergency Services Dispatcher and is a separate recruitment from this one. To apply for the Sheriff's Emergency Services Dispatcher Trainee position, click here.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:
As part of the County of San Diego’s pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment medical screening prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position.

HOW TO APPLY:
Applications are completed online. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be notified and given instructions on how to schedule themselves for the performance exam. In order to be considered, all candidates who are notified that they meet the minimum qualifications must take the performance exam. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a qualified individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.

The CritiCall performance exam can be completed online from home and is a work-simulated computer-based performance test covering the following areas:

• Call summarization
• Character comparison
• Data entry
• Cross-referencing
• Decision making
• Prioritization
• Keyboarding
• Probability
• Map reading
• Reading comprehension
• Memory recall
• Sentence clarity and spelling

For the CritiCall study guide, click here.

Applicants who are successful in passing the performance examination (pass/fail) will be placed on a twelve (12) month employment list based on a score received from their employment application and supplemental questionnaire (100%). Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental application questionnaire will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in the initial screening process your application will be reviewed individually to confirm that the information you provided is accurate and qualifying. The County of San Diego now participates in E-Verify.

If you’re ready to bring your experience to make a difference, bring your composure, compassion, and communication skills to a career where every call matters.

Apply TODAY!

As an employer of over 19,000 employees, the County of San Diego is an organization committed to veteran hiring, retention, and professional development. We recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by our veterans and value the unique expertise and leadership qualities they bring to our workforce. We strive to provide veterans with the resources and tools necessary to maximize their employment opportunities, and to assist veterans with their transition into civilian life by applying the valuable skills, knowledge and training acquired in service to positions and career paths at all levels within our large organization. Click on the resource links below to learn more about how the County of San Diego supports its veterans.Veteran’s Preference PolicyThe County of San Diego offerspreferential credits for military service to assist qualified applicants in transitioning from military to civilian careers with the County of San Diego.Military Skills Translator Do you need assistance translating your military experience into civilian experience? This tool can help!

The County of San Diego and its employees embrace the vision of a just, sustainable, and resilient future for all. Our values include integrity, equity, access, belonging, excellence, and sustainability. Each of which is infused throughout our operations. While also embracing a mission of strengthening our communities with innovative, inclusive, and data-driven services through a skilled and supported workforce. Click here for more information on our Strategic Plan (sandiegocounty.gov)

Under California Government Code Sections 3100 - 3109, public employees are designated as disaster service workers. The term "public employees" includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district.

The County of San Diego is committed to valuing diversity and practicing inclusion because our diverse workforce is our greatest asset and our customers are our number one priority.