Sheriffs Communications Dispatcher I

Sheriff's Communications Dispatcher I

Support your community in a personally rewarding career by joining the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office family as a Sheriff's Communications Dispatcher I. No experience required and multiple positions available! Starting salary up to $45.96/hour ($95,924/year), and a competitive total compensation package!

Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to excellent benefits including:

• Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Career Advancement - With time and good performance, the opportunity for advancement to Communications Dispatcher II (annual salary up to $108,530)
• Bilingual Premium Pay - An additional $1.15/1.50/hour on top of the hourly pay rate for basic/fluent bilingual positions
• Shift Differential - Up to 10% premium added for shifts worked during evening and night hours
• Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, and 12 paid holidays per year
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Staff Development/Wellness - Annual benefit allowances of up $850, and ongoing education/training opportunities
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

Become a Sheriff's Communications Dispatcher I

Supporting public safety during emergencies is a rewarding career for individuals who thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy solving problems under pressure, and excel at using advanced communication systems. While the work is challenging, dispatchers play a vital role in helping protect the community. Those with the dedication, resilience, and passion for public service are rewarded with the opportunity to make a difference when people need help most, while becoming part of the strong teamwork and camaraderie that define the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

Whether you're driven by a desire to serve your community, grow professionally, or take on new challenges, a career as a dispatcher with the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office offers meaningful work and opportunities for advancement. As a dispatcher, you'll coordinate emergency and non-emergency communications for ground, marine, and air units in a dynamic environment where every shift presents new experiences. As your career progresses, you'll have opportunities to develop specialized skills and pursue unique assignments. As two examples, Tactical Dispatchers work alongside deputies in the field during specialized tactical operations or may provide communications support for law enforcement services at major events including Sonoma Raceway.

Beyond serving the Sheriff's Office, our Communications Center provides dispatch services for the Sonoma and Windsor Police Departments, Sonoma County Regional Parks, and Sonoma County Probation. This diverse range of responsibilities provides valuable experience and the opportunity to support multiple public safety agencies throughout Sonoma County. If you're looking for a career that is challenging, meaningful, and offers continuous opportunities to learn and grow, consider joining the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office as a Dispatcher. You'll receive the training, resources, and support needed to succeed while making a lasting impact on the community you serve.

In this entry-level Dispatcher position, you will receive significant training on how to effectively handle a variety of emergency situations. Once on-the-job training is complete, Dispatchers take emergency calls, dispatch, track, and monitor situations happening in the community, and assist Deputies in the field in a wide variety of situations ranging from looking for a missing person to responding to a robbery in progress. In addition to compassion and empathy, the ideal candidates will possess excellent judgment and:

• Remain calm, clear, and in control during times of stress
• Work swiftly in stressful circumstances to manage multiple simultaneous situations
• Demonstrate excellent communication and problem-solving skills
• Have experience working with the public and people in distress
• Have the ability to direct distressed callers through emergencies, read maps, and provide clear directions
• Demonstrate the ability to type quickly and accurately

In our 24/7 environment, overtime is required and Dispatchers must have the flexibility to work all shifts (nights, swings, weekends, holidays, and mandatory overtime/holdovers). As you gain experience and seniority, there is more flexibility in selecting shifts.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience and Education: Any combination of experience, training, and education which would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities. Normally, this would include graduation from high school or possession of a G.E.D. Some experience receiving information over the phone, radio, or communications system, and simultaneously entering data into a computer is desirable.

Special requirement: Within one year of employment, and as a condition of probation, employees in this classification shall complete a P.O.S.T. certified Public Safety Dispatcher's Basic Course.

Special skill requirement: This classification requires the ability to type at a corrected speed of 45 words per minute.

License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.

The positions advertised on this announcement do not require possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Some knowledge of: streets, roads, major buildings and geography of Sonoma County; the functions of the Sheriff's Office and other public safety agencies; communications equipment; data entry techniques and computer operations; techniques for effectively working with members of various ages, ethnicities and socio-economic groups; standard office practices and procedures, including filing and the operation of standard office equipment.

Ability to: speak clearly and concisely in English; react quickly, efficiently and calmly in an emergency situation, and adopt an effective course of action; handle inquiries from the public in a courteous and effective manner; learn rules and regulations, including applicable Federal Communications Regulations and their application; understand and follow complex written and oral instructions; learn to operate communications equipment; keep records; type on a keyboard; and work a shift schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions will be used in assessing minimum qualifications. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%). Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for selection interviews.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for invitation by the Sheriff's Office for online skills based testing using CritiCall.

Additional Information

Being part of the Sheriff's Office and being expected to keep the public safe requires a thorough background investigation process. This process includes an assessment of prior work history, verifying educational experiences