Public Safety Dispatcher

Job InformationAre you looking for a meaningful career that has a positive impact on the community? If you answered yes, come join the Sparks Police Department! We proudly display Where Community Comes First on the police vehicles, a motto developed by our front lines. While carrying out the vision to implement innovative strategies to prevent crime, promote excellence in leadership and serve the community, you will also receive a generous and competitive salary, benefit package, tuition reimbursement, bilingual pay (when applicable) and retirement plan. People who come to Sparks stay in Sparks. It's more than a job – it's a career that has so much to offer. Apply here to start the process.Emergency Communications Dispatchers answer calls from the public and communicate via radio with police officers regarding all types of emergencies and non-emergencies. The City of Sparks is seeking individuals who demonstrate the ability to calmly work with the citizens of Sparks and police officers while using a multi-line telephone system, radio network panel, and Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system to receive, prioritize, and process calls for police services.Are you ready to take the next step? If so, take a look at these Application Tips:COMPLETELY fill out and update your general online application before attaching it to any new job posting. HR reviews information listed on the application submitted to the specific job posting. HR does NOT use personnel files in the screening process.Contact information : use an email address you can easily access at any time.The Qualifications section below is your guide to understand what the City is looking for on your application, use this to your advantage. It is up to the candidate seeking employment/promotion to include all relevant information for qualification purposes, on the application the candidate submits to be considered for the job.DO attach : licenses/transcripts/certificates that will demonstrate you meet the education or certification requirements (see qualifications section to determine what documents to attach) or preferred experience/education.DO NOT attach resumes or cover letters. The City of Sparks does not review these items with the application.This is a continuous recruitment. Candidates may only submit one application in a 365 day period. Please submit a complete application (including any required attachments) as soon as possible in order to be considered.Typing Test: Applicants must attach a valid typing certificate to their application that reflects the candidate's ability to type at 45 net words per minute. Certifications must have been obtained within the last 12 months, and should be a minimum duration of three (3) minutes. *Effective 8.10.2026* any typing certificate that meets the above noted requirements will be accepted.Emergency Communication Dispatcher Civil Service Exam: Candidates who meet minimum qualifications will receive an e-mail invitation to schedule the first of a three-part series, Civil Service Exam. Upon successful completion of the first exam, candidates will be moved to the next exam within the series. These exams are self-administered with no proctor, which means candidates will be able to complete them online at their convenience during the designated testing window. These exams only work on desk top or laptop computers. Tablets and mobile phones are incompatible. Additionally, the Safari browser is not supported on any device. If you do not have access to a desk top or laptop, you can make an appointment with HR to take your test in person.Candidates who pass the Civil Service Exam: will be placed on an eligibility that will be good for up to one year. The department will consider candidates from that list based on rank order as vacancies become available. Those candidates that successfully complete the interview step will move onto the background step.The background process constitutes a comprehensive Police Department Investigation in which the Police Department runs a State of Nevada and national fingerprint check as well as a Wants/Warrants check to confirm the candidate has no felony or gross misdemeanor arrests without disposition, no felony or gross misdemeanor convictions or to confirm that the applicant is not a fugitive from justice.If you have any questions, please email View email address on click.appcast.io. The City of Sparks is an Equal Opportunity Employer.DescriptionReceive 911 system emergency and non-emergency calls. Dispatch assignments according to established police and fire procedures. Operate various communications center equipment simultaneously.QualificationsApplicants must possess the following minimum qualifications to continue in the recruitment process:Must be 18 years of age at time of application.Education and Experience:High School Diploma or equivalent and two (2) full years of emergency communications dispatching (or equivalent) experience with a law enforcement agency within the last three (3) years.Licenses and Certificates:Must possess at time of application a valid typing certificate demonstrating the ability to accurately type forty-five (45) net words per minute.Must possess within six (6) months of hire and maintain throughout employment, a valid NCIC/NCJIS certification.Must possess within six (6) months of hire and maintain throughout employment, a valid EFD certification.Specified positions may require possession and maintenance of the equivalent to a valid Nevada Class C driver's license within thirty (30) days of hire.Examples of Essential DutiesReceive and evaluate 911, police and fire emergency and business calls. Transfer calls to appropriate parties or create a call to dispatch police and fire units to emergency locations. Receive non-emergency information from callers, personnel, and outside agencies and disseminate to appropriate department or agency or enter calls for service.Monitor, coordinate, and accurately maintain the status of incidents and personnel and the records of dispatched emergency service personnel and apparatus. Operate computer consoles and computerized phone system for call input, dispatching and continuous updates of suspect information and officer and fire unit locations.Receive and disseminate information from other law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency service computer networks related to jurisdictional requests for police, fire, or medical assistance, or teletype notices of wanted persons, stolen property, warrants and all points bulletins and maintain confidentiality of information.Place calls for additional units from other agencies for various mutual aid agreements including specialized fire resources, wreckers, coroners, and registered owners of vehicles involved in accidents based upon incident type, location and need. Handle in-house and radio paging, animal control and other after hours' phone lines.Maintain a variety of automated and manual logs, records, files and indexes pertaining to emergency and dispatching activities. Enter, translate, retrieve, update and disseminate information from interstate and intrastate teletype networks. Attend to multiple activities and sources of input simultaneously. Testify in court regarding actions related to events as required.Locate warrants served on NCIC and enter/clear missing persons in NCIC. Update new information on computer systems including missing persons, stolen articles, guns and other pertinent information and broadcast all-points bulletins.Operate multi-channel radio system. Monitor other channels while maintaining radio traffic on main channels. Maintain radio contact with mobile and portable units. Recognize units from other agencies and assist them with city units, supplies or requested information.Respond to officer-initiated radio traffic. Request and disseminate suspect information from call boards, prior calls and bulletins and computer aided systems. Assess and prioritize emergency situations.Maintain familiarity of area geography, including major buildings, streets, and businesses, and recognize circumstances that may pose a hazard to public safety and to field units. Read and interpret street maps.Maintain up-to-date understanding of public safety policies and procedures for the Emergency Management, Police, Fire, and other emergency service providers. Communicate tactfully and effectively with the public, public safety personnel, and others. Obtain information from individuals in emergency situations, including those who are emotionally distraught, angry or difficult to understand. Understand and maintain procedures on suicidal subjects. Remain calm and make rapid and sound independent judgments in stressful emergency situations.Maintain and access business and premise history and index files for emergency and other necessary contacts. Memorize codes, names, locations and other detailed information. Understand and follow oral and written instructions. Work in a team-based environment. Operate complex radio and telephone systems. Test and inspect equipment as needed.Perform other duties which may be assigned.Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:Knowledge of federal, state and local laws and ordinances related to the workKnowledge of basic fire and police and terminologyKnowledge of organization and operation of Police and Fire and other emergency servicesKnowledge of recordkeeping principles and practicesKnowledge of basic communication related to emergency radio and telephone and ability to use communication equipment including telephone, radio, paging, computer and related systemsKnowledge of and ability to apply interview techniques to elicit information from excited and/or