Communication Technician (911 Dispatcher)

Ready to Make a Difference? Join Portage County as a Communication Technician! Step into a rewarding career with the Portage County Sheriff's Office , where every call matters and every action helps protect lives.

As a Communication Technician , you'll be part of a dedicated team committed to:

• Preserving life and property
• Serving our diverse community with care and professionalism
• Delivering the best emergency and non-emergency communications

Why You'll Love It:

• Competitive pay starting at $25.09/hr in 2026
• A mission-driven role where your work truly impacts the community
• Be the vital link between help and hope

Job Duties Include:

The Communication Center answers 10 emergent 911 phone lines, 9 non-emergent phone lines, monitors over 20 radio channels, pages Fire, EMS, Medical Examiner, sets off weather sirens and creates and sends community alert emergent and non-emergent notifications. Dispatch services are provided for Portage County Sheriff's Office, Stevens Point and Plover Police Departments as well as 33 EMS and Fire Agencies and many other agencies in Portage County. Additional duties include; researching information for Deputies, Officers and Detectives for all three law enforcement agencies, along with UWSP Police, entering warrants for five law enforcement agencies, entering missing persons, stolen vehicles or properties for four law enforcement agencies, entering restraining orders.

Qualified candidates must have:

-High school diploma or equivalent required
-Must be 18 years old and a US Citizen
-No felony convictions unless pardoned by the Governor

One or more of the following preferred:

-Six months or more experience in emergency dispatch or related law enforcement
-One year work experience or four years of volunteer fire, ambulance, rescue experience
-Six months or more experience in customer service and/or in a call center environment
-Public Safety Communications Dispatch diploma from an accredited Technical school
-One year military communications experience that primarily involved direct voice broadcasting to send and receive messages associated with military police and emergency equipment
-Information technology experience

Critical skills to have to be successful in positions include:

-Ability to multi-task and multi-listen, good active listening skills is a must
-Quick decision making skills and ability to prioritize emergency situations
-Computer skills with the ability to use multiple screens
-Good customer service skills and the ability to work as a team
-Ability to handle high stress situations; sometimes for hours at a time during high call volume situations
-Ability to visualize the information given and to think outside the box
-Must be detailed oriented

Portage County offers a GREAT benefit package, which includes the following;

• Vacation - available on day one!
• Health insurance- your choice of two health plans- (Health Savings Account associated with a High Deductible Health Plan with a County contribution or a PPO Co-pay plan)
• Wellness incentive plan offered with health insurance enrollment! Earn up to $600 per year!
• Flexible spending account
• Dental insurance
• State of Wisconsin Retirement Plan - County contribution of 7.2%!
• Paid holidays
• Paid sick leave
• Life insurance- premium paid by the County (must work a minimum of 30 hrs/wk)
• Long term disability insurance- premium paid by the County (must work a minimum of 30 hrs/wk)
• EAP (Employee Assistance Plan) - paid by the County
• 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan

This will be a reoccurring list.


If you're ready to take on a role that combines purpose, professionalism, and pride, apply today and become the voice that makes a difference!


Portage County is an Equal Opportunity Employer