Sheriff's Dispatcher

The Position

This is a continuous recruitment Current Filing: 6/6/26, last day to apply 7/5/26 by 11:59 PM PST Bargaining Unit: DSA - Deputy Sheriff's Non-Sworn Rank & File Unit

Why Join Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff? The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff is the largest law enforcement agency in Contra Costa with over 1,100 sworn and professional employees dedicated to providing the highest level of law enforcement and customer services. The Office of the Sheriff offers a full range of services to over 1,000,000 residents in the 715-square mile county.

The duties and mission of the Sheriff's Office are unlike most police agencies. Responsibilities include unincorporated area policing, contract cities (Danville, Lafayette, and Orinda) and special districts, air support (helicopters), marine patrol, dispatch, investigations, coroners, county detention facilities, custody alternative, court security, forensic services, police academy, and Office of Emergency Services.

The Office of the Sheriff is recruiting individuals to fill positions in the Sheriff's Dispatcher I classification.

About the position: The Office of the Sheriff is seeking dedicated and service-oriented individuals to join our team as Sheriff's Dispatchers I. This critical role is based at the state-of-the-art dispatch center in Martinez, California, which operates around the clock to support the safety of the community. Sheriff's Dispatchers are the vital first point of contact for individuals in need of emergency assistance.

In this position, you will receive and prioritize both emergency and non-emergency calls, determine the appropriate response, and dispatch units in accordance with established Sheriff's Office policies and procedures. You will also enter and retrieve information from computer data systems and maintain continuous radio communication with 15–20 patrol units in the field. In addition to supporting law enforcement, you will provide dispatch services to fire departments, ambulance units, and the County Office of Emergency Services.

The role requires the ability to remain calm and professional in high-pressure situations, accurately summarize and relay information, and provide clear instructions to field personnel to ensure efficient and effective responses. Weekend, holiday, and overtime work is required, with all overtime compensated at 1.5 times the regular hourly rate.

Want to learn more about the role and the Sheriff's Dispatch Center? Visit the Official Sheriff's Dispatcher Job Page We are looking for someone who is:

• Decisive . Is able to act promptly, logically, and with clear judgement when faced with challenging situations.
• Communicative . Is able to clearly and effectively share information with the public and emergency responders.
• Detail-Oriented . Is able to read, comprehend and retain important information for dispatching needs.
• Calm . Is able to maintain composure and professionalism even during high-stress emergencies.
• Adaptable . Is able to adjust quickly to changing situations and shifting priorities.
• Multi-Tasking . Is able to balance data entry and communication seamlessly, managing several tasks at once.
• Self-Motivated . Is driven to provide exceptional and proactive support to the community.
• Ethical . Is able to demonstrate integrity and upholding standards in all aspects of the role.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Receiving and prioritizing telephone and radio messages in a calm and efficient manner.
• Using computer-aided data entry equipment or manually recording and relaying information to appropriate field units, including patrol officers, fire departments, ambulance companies, the County Public Works Department, and the Office of Emergency Services.
• Receiving, transmitting, and recording teletype and data systems messages to ensure accurate and timely communication.
• Answering questions from the public and providing accurate and helpful information.
• Dispatching resources from a mobile command center when requested, ensuring coordinated responses.

A few reasons why you might love a career as a Sheriff's Dispatcher:

• You will be performing work that directly impacts the safety and well-being of the public and Contra Costa County residents.
• You will have the ability to demonstrate your moral and ethical decision-making skills in a meaningful way.
• You will use your fact-finding abilities to identify needs, make critical decisions and address pressing issues.
• You will have many opportunities for career advancement and professional development within Contra Costa County.

A few challenges you may face as a Sheriff's Dispatcher:

• You will need to remain calm to effectively handle high-stress situations.
• You will need to be attentive to detail and ensure that every aspect of your work is thorough, accurate, and complete.
• You will need to maintain composure when faced with callers who are aggressive, angry or emotional because of their situation.
• You will need to make quick decisions and act promptly, often…