Dispatcher I

JOB INFORMATION See NOTES below for future wage increases and/or additional compensation opportunities. APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY TO OTHER ACTIVE DISPATCHER RECRUITMENTS, AS VACANCIES MAY BE FILLED UTILIZING ANY CURRENT DISPATCHER ELIGIBLE LISTS ( DISPATCHER II AND FIRE DISPATCHER ) . YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO PASS A COMPUTER-BASED PERFORMANCE TEST TO BE CONSIDERED FOR DISPATCHER I POSITIONS. MULTI-TASKING SKILLS AND THE ABILITY TO MAKE QUICK DECISIONS ARE ESSENTIAL TO BE A SUCCESSFUL DISPATCHER. FOR POSITIONS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, SELECTED CANDIDATES WILL UNDERGO A COMPREHENSIVE CHARACTER AND BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION, INCLUDING A POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION AND FINGERPRINT CHECK PRIOR TO HIRE. FELONY CONVICTIONS, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONVICTIONS, OR USE OF ANY ILLEGAL DRUGS MAY BE DISQUALIFYING. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, REFER TO THE FOLLOWING LINK: https://www.sandiego.gov/police/recruiting/opportunities/dispatcher All Dispatcher I positions , under general supervision, receive incoming telephone calls and evaluate requests for Police services, Fire-Rescue services, Environmental services, and Transportation services. Notes: Employees in job classifications represented by the Municipal Employees Association (MEA) are scheduled to receive the following general wage increases: 3.5% effective 7/1/27 2% effective 7/1/28 2% effective 1/1/29 Eligible benefitted employees originally hired on or after July 10, 2021, will be automatically enrolled in the San Diego City Employees Retirement System (SDCERS). Dispatcher I employees may answer 50-170 calls a day and are required to sit for long periods of time. Please refer to the Supplemental Information section of the job bulletin for a more detailed description of typical Dispatcher I duties and working conditions. Dispatcher I employees may be required to work extended periods of night or unusual shift work for which they may receive 5% additional pay. Dispatcher I positions in the Police and Fire-Rescue Departments work on a Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system and are the primary answering point for all 911 and non-emergency phone calls from within the City of San Diego (Fire-Rescue Department has dispatch contracts with Chula Vista, Coronado, Imperial Beach, National City, and Poway); elicit essential incident information from callers; determine the nature and extent of the request, the priority of the problem and the need for dispatching police, fire or medical field units; enter appropriate information by typing on a computer keyboard into a dispatch format; answer routine inquiries and refer calls not requiring dispatch to the appropriate department or agency. Notes For Police Department Positions: Police Department Dispatcher I employees typical starting hourly rate is $30.48. Police Department Dispatcher I employees must obtain a California P.O.S.T. Basic Dispatcher Course Certificate within one year from date of hire. Police Department Dispatcher I employees who possess a California P.O.S.T. Basic Dispatcher Course Certificate are eligible for 20% additional pay. Police Department Dispatcher I employees assigned as operators in the 911 Police Department Phone Room are eligible for 5% additional special assignment pay. Police Department Dispatcher I employees work 10 hours per shift, four days per week, with three consecutive days off. Police Department Dispatcher I employees may be required to work overtime. Police Department Dispatcher I employees may be required to work during all City holidays. The communication center in the Police Department operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with day, evening, and night shifts. Dispatcher I employees will be rotated to different shifts on a periodic basis. Notes For Fire-rescue Department Positions: Fire-Rescue Department Dispatcher I employees work 12-hour shifts (44/36 rotation schedule). Fire-Rescue Department Dispatcher I employees may be required to work overtime during training, if needed, on cleared positions. Fire-…

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