Public Safety Dispatcher - Lateral (Full-Time and Part-Time)

Salary : $76,502.40 - $93,080.00 Annually
Location : 969 Petaluma Blvd North, Petaluma, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2026-00481
Department: Police
Opening Date: 02/03/2026


Summary/Class Characteristics
Public Safety Dispatcher - Lateral (Full-Time and Part-Time)

This recruitment is for Lateral Public Safety Dispatcher (Full-Time and Part-Time) with prior experience only. To be considered for this recruitment, candidates must have at least one year of dispatcher experience and have completed a California POST Public Safety Dispatcher Basic Course. Full-Time positions receive benefits and are represented. Part-Time positions are not allocated, are unrepresented and do not receive benefits. Part-Time Dispatchers are required to work a minimum of 20 hours per month, and cannot exceed 29 hours per week.
Special Pays as a Full-Time Public Safety Dispatcher:

• Uniform Allowance: $260 annually
• POST Dispatcher Certificate Pay: 1.5% for POST Intermediate Dispatcher Certificate, 3% for POST Advanced Dispatcher Certificate.
• Bilingual Pay: up to $200 per month
• Public Safety Dispatcher Trainer: 5% as assigned
• Shift Differential: 3% if assigned to swing shift, 5% if assigned to graveyard shift
• Longevity Pay: 5% after 15 years of service with the City

Benefits as a Full-Time Public Safety Dispatcher:

• CalPERS Retirement: 2% at 60 for "classic" members, 2% at 62 for new members.
• CalPERS Health Program: City pays 95% of Bay Area Kaiser rate premium for employee and eligible dependents
• Dental/Vision/Life/LTD Insurance: paid 100% by City
• Sick Leave: earn 96 hours per year with unlimited accrual
• Compensatory Time Off Bank: earn hours at 1.5 times actual hours worked up to 240 hours
• Vacation Time: earn 80-200 hours per year depending on years of service
• Cash in Lieu of Medical/Dental Benefits: receive 50% of Kaiser Bay Area premium and Dental premium as cash payment (with proof of other insurance for employee and eligible dependents)
• Employee Assistance Program: Support and benefits, for you & eligible family members, paid for by the City
• Wellness Benefit: $500 annual allowance (subject to the annual budget approval process and may change in the future)
• Paid Parental Leave - up to 8 weeks of paid time for qualifying family bonding

For more information regarding the benefits associated with the full-time position, please visit our and look at the and .

The Petaluma Police Department Petaluma Police Department is dedicated to providing the best law enforcement services to the community and it prides itself on community involved programs. Petaluma has a population of approximately 61,000 and encompasses nearly 14 square miles situated 40 miles north of San Francisco Bay Area on U.S. 101, and 30 miles east of the Pacific Ocean. The Police Department staffing includes 84.5 full time employees, including one Chief, one Deputy Chief, four Lieutenants, one Technical Services Manager, nine Sergeants, fifty Officers, and other support staff, including the Communications Unit (Dispatch). In addition, the department has K-9 Officers, Traffic Unit, Motorcycle Patrol, SWAT Team, Investigations Unit, and Reserve Community Service Officer Program (Volunteer). The Petaluma Police Department is proactive in Community Oriented Policing Philosophy.
The Petaluma Police Department is a member of the Sonoma County consortium which uses a shared CAD/RMS system. Full Time Dispatchers typically work a 4/10 schedule (4 days per week/10 hours per day) or 4 days per week/3 twelve-hour days and 1 4-hour day depending on staffing levels.

Duties


The duties, skills, and demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with a disability to perform the essential duties, skills, and demands.

• Receive 911 emergency and non-emergency calls for service; evaluate the nature of the emergency; enter information into computer terminals; determine appropriate response level, priority and type of resources required, dispatch police, fire, and medical personnel and equipment; update and monitor information related to the event.
• Monitor radio traffic and request for services, relay information and/or instructions to personnel, work with other agencies and coordinate mutual response radio traffic.
• Maintain records of calls for service using the computer aided dispatch system; maintain and access business and premise history files for emergency and other necessary contacts.
• Process and enter citations into the records management system and perform related clerical duties.
• Operate in-house and radio paging systems.
• Monitor closed-circuit security cameras.
• Assist citizens at the Police Station after business hours. Coordinate responses to after hour emergency calls for City services.
• May provide new employees with an orientation to City dispatch procedures and services.
• May be required to provide court testimony.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Knowledge of:

• Modern office practices and procedures, computers, and software applications.
• Proper English usage, grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Alphabetic, chronological, and numeric filing systems.
• Effective communication techniques.
• Community resources.
• City and surrounding geography.

Education and Experience

Any combination equivalent to the education and experience likely to provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to gain such knowledge and abilities would be:
Education:

Equivalent to graduation from high school. Related college course work desirable.
Experience:

One (1) year of experience in public safety and/or fire dispatching in a 911 center is required.

Physical Demands and Working Environment


While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use the computer keyboard and mouse, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear; stand, walk, and stoop, or crouch. Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. The employee will work in an office environment where the noise level is usually moderate.
The City of Petaluma offers a wide-ranging, comprehensive benefit package including CalPERS retirement, medical, dental, vision, life, LTD, etc. For more information regarding the benefits associated with this position, visit our website:
01


This recruitment will be used to fill both full-time and part-time positions. Please indicate which type of position you are applying for:

• Full-Time Public Safety Dispatcher
• Part-Time Public Safety Dispatcher
• I would like to be considered for both Full-Time and Part-Time employment.

02


Please describe your experience involving interaction with the public (in person or by phone) while performing multiple tasks and using a computer at the same time (multi-tasking). In your response, please indicate the name of the employer that corresponds to the experience described.
03


To be considered for this position you must have at least one year of dispatcher experience and have completed a California POST Public Safety Dispatcher Basic Course. Please indicate that you understand this requirement.

• Yes
• No

04


Have you successfully completed a California POST Public Safety Dispatcher Basic Course?

• Yes
• No

05


Do you possess a California POST Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate?

• Yes
• No

06


If applicable, please attach your POST Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate. Please indicate that you understand this requirement.

• Yes
• No

07


Are you willing to work any shift assignment as needed in the Petaluma Police Department including holidays, nights, and weekends?

• Yes
• No

08


If you are successful in completing the testing process, you will undergo a comprehensive background investigation, including fingerprinting and a polygraph examination. After a conditional job offer is made, you must pass a medical examination, drug screen, and psychological suitability examination. Please indicate that you understand this requirement.

• Yes
• No

Required Question