Public Safety Dispatcher​/Jailer

This position will, at times, require you to process and handle prisoners including, but not limited to: booking of arrested persons; performing searches; taking inventory of prisoner's property; fingerprinting; and administering breath tests where applicable; monitoring the activities of prisoners in City detention facilities; providing daily care of prisoners including feeding and medicating; maintaining and enforcing custodial facility regulations of the jail.

The examination process will consist of a competitive evaluation of qualifications based on a review of the Application and the Supplemental Questionnaire; therefore, it is to your advantage to provide as much detailed and relevant work experience as possible, as a resume will not be accepted or reviewed in lieu of the application materials.

Tentative Exam date:
December 3, 2026 - only those applicants that meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery.

POST regulations do not allow testing more than one time in 30 calendar days, therefore, if you have taken the California POST Entry Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery with another agency within 30 calendar days prior to the scheduled test date you are unable to participate in our examination. However, you may submit a copy of your t-score (48.0 or higher) on issuing agency letterhead by the time of the written examination in lieu of taking the examination with the City of Lodi.

If you are submitting a T-score, with a score of 48.0 or higher, issued within the past 12 months (December 3, 2025 – December 3, 2026), from another California law enforcement agency or academy in lieu of taking the written examination with the City of Lodi, you must submit it by 5:00 p.m., December 3, 2026.

Scores may be submitted as follows:

• email to hrdept
• fax to
• mail delivery to:
  City of Lodi Human Resources PO Box 3006 Lodi, CA 95241

Score must be received NO LATER THAN 5:00 PM ON December 3, 2026.

T-scores dated outside the window period will not be accepted.

Under general direction, receives 9-1-1 police, fire and medical emergency calls, answers non-emergency calls for public safety and other City departments using independent judgment in often sensitive situations; performs a variety of non-sworn office duties in support of law enforcement activities; assumes responsibility for the processing and handling of prisoners.

Receives general direction from the Dispatch Supervisor and other assigned staff. May also receive direction from the Lead Dispatcher/Jailer.

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

Under general direction, receives 9-1-1 police, fire and medical emergency calls, answers non-emergency calls for public safety and other City departments using independent judgment in often sensitive situations; performs a variety of non-sworn office duties in support of law enforcement activities.

Answers emergency and non-emergency telephones and conducts interviews with callers to determine the nature of call, priority and appropriate response and/or action and dispatches police, fire or other emergency units as necessary and in accordance with established guidelines.

Maintains contact with all units on assignment; maintains status and location of police field units; coordinates emergency calls and relays information and assistance requests involving other public safety agencies.

Enters, updates and retrieves information from computer networks relating to wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration and other information; answers all incoming phone calls; screen calls and routes as appropriate; waits on public.

Processes and handles prisoners including, but not limited to: the booking of arrested persons; performing searches; taking inventory of prisoner's property; fingerprinting; and administering breath tests where applicable; monitors the activities of prisoners in City detention facilities; provides daily care of prisoners including feeding and medicating; maintains and enforces custodial facility regulations of the jail.

Provide a variety of staff and administrative assistance related to the dispatch center; work with supervisory and management staff to resolve issues related to dispatch; perform special projects as assigned including research and scheduling training opportunities and developing…