Dispatcher II/III (Lateral Transfer)

About the Position

The Sheriff's Office is recruiting. As a Dispatcher, you are responsible for monitoring, receiving, and dispatching routine and emergency radio communications to and from Sheriff's patrol units and other law enforcement or public safety agencies. To effectively accomplish these tasks, you will be involved in securing and recording information as to the nature of a reported problem and identifying the exact location. You will be operating a CLETS (California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System) computer terminal to obtain or verify information and maintaining required logs of calls and incidents. Additionally, you will prepare reports, provide information and assistance to the public, and determine availability and location of patrol units to dispatch. The County of San Luis Obispo's Sheriff's Dispatch Center provides coverage to San Luis Obispo, as well as the surrounding areas including Morro Bay and Arroyo Grande.

The Ideal Candidate

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Education and Experience: A combination of education, training, and experience resulting in the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. An example of qualifying education and experience includes:

Sheriff's Dispatcher I: Graduation from high school or possession of a General Education Development (GED) Certificate. Work experience receiving information and simultaneously performing data entry is desirable.

Sheriff's Dispatcher II: In addition to the above, one year of relevant work experience, including the use of radio, telephonic, or automatic communication equipment.

Sheriff's Dispatcher III: In addition to the above, one year of experience as a Dispatcher II or equivalent.

Licenses and Certificates: Sheriff's Dispatcher II: Must possess P.O.S.T. Public Safety Dispatcher certification at time of appointment. Sheriff's Dispatcher III: Must obtain a P.O.S.T. Communication Training Officer Certification within twelve months from date of appointment.

PER COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO CIVIL SERVICE RULES A CANDIDATE MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR A LATERAL TRANSFER:

• The class in which employment is contemplated is closely related and comparable in duties and minimum qualifications to the class in which the individual holds permanent status.
• The individual must have been employed by the other public agency within one year prior to the date of his or her application to the County.
• The individual was appointed to the class in which he or she holds permanent status from an eligible list resulting from an open competitive or promotional examination which meets the standards of the County.
• There must be written information submitted by the other public agency and on file with the Commission confirming the individual's permanent status and containing the following statements:
• The employment record of the individual has been entirely satisfactory;
• The individual has not been separated, nor is he/she being considered from separation, due to fault or delinquency on his/her part.
• The individual may be required to take and pass an oral examination as administered by an oral board as provided in Rule 7.02.
• The individual shall meet the medical requirements as provided in Rule 8.
• The names of such individuals shall be placed on the open eligible list in the order of their approval and shall follow any names which may already appear on the eligible list.

How to Apply

Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date. Apply for this position at governmentjobs.com/careers/slocountyca. Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process. We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application. An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews. Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process. If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at View email address on click.appcast.io. Confidential inquiries are welcomed. For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at

Supplemental Information

This is a continuous recruitment; however, the posting can close at anytime without notice, therefore, prompt application is encouraged.

Becoming an employee of the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office is a fantastic opportunity and we pride ourselves on hiring the most qualified candidates. While it is of the utmost importance for us to identify qualified candidates, equally important to this process is that our applicants have a clear, realistic understanding as to the requirements of the position in which they are applying. Below please find additional information about the position for your review:

Schedule: A new shift starts every January, May and September. About six weeks before, shift pick is conducted where dispatchers, by seniority, select from days, cover or nights, and within those choose their days off and hours. Dispatchers work 12 hour shifts and often are required to work overtime.

Work Assignments & Training: The probationary period is one year and comprised of approximately four to six months of one-on-one training with daily and weekly evaluations, and the remainder is OJT (On the Job Training). During this time the trainee is solely responsible for their duty stations and will receive bi-weekly evaluations.

A Successful Dispatcher:

• Thrives in a frequently negative environment; sees, hears and reads things that are sad, disgusting and disturbing; talks with parents and other family members who may get upset and angry about their case or circumstances.
• Effectively organizes and prioritizes their workload continually throughout the shift amid competing distractions.
• Demonstrates they are a productive member of the work team and have a positive, can-do attitude.

Other Conditions of Employment: Employees in this class will be required to work weekends, holidays and irregular hours.

Character: Good moral character as determined by a thorough background investigation, including a fingerprint and record check.

Background Check: To accept a position with the Sheriff's Office, you must successfully complete a Sheriff's Background Investigation. Below is a partial list of offenses or issues that may disqualify you from successful completion. Please review the below list:

• Any felony conviction
• Recent misdemeanor conviction, or any two misdemeanor convictions as an adult
• Poor employment history
• Any sale, manufacture, or cultivation of illegal drugs
• Recent use of illegal substances such as opiates, hallucinogens, injectables, cocaine, methamphetamine, or similar substance
• Poor driving record such as numerous hazardous traffic violations or chargeable accidents
• Recent conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, or any two convictions for this offense as an adult
• Any act of domestic violence, as defined by law
• Any crime committed against a child
• Behavior or derogatory remarks constituting discrimination or bias toward others based on their race, religion, gender, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other protected class
• Any material misstatement of fact or intentional omission of information during the application or background process

Reasonable Accommodation Notice

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. Please call View phone number on click.appcast.io for assistance or e-mail View email address on click.appcast.io for more information.

Veteran's Preference Points

If you are applying for employment with the County of San Luis Obispo and you served in the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible for veteran's preference points as part of the recruitment process. Some dependents and survivors of eligible veterans may also be eligible for preference points. Click here for more information and to learn how to apply for this benefit. Please note that Veteran's credits must be on file with the County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office prior to the recruitment closing date indicated on the job announcement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The County is an equal opportunity employer. Objectives are directed toward assuring equal opportunity in selection