Sheriff's Dispatcher

The Position

This is a continuous recruitment accepting applications through 9/7/26. 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 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, communicative, detail-oriented, calm, adaptable, multi-tasking, self-motivated, ethical.

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: performing work that directly impacts the safety and well-being of the public and Contra Costa County residents; demonstrating your moral and ethical decision-making skills in a meaningful way; using your fact-finding abilities to identify needs, make critical decisions and address pressing issues; having many opportunities for career advancement and professional development within Contra Costa County.

A few challenges you may face as a Sheriff's Dispatcher: remaining calm to effectively handle high-stress situations; being attentive to detail and ensuring that every aspect of your work is thorough, accurate, and complete; maintaining composure when faced with callers who are aggressive, angry or emotional because of their situation; making quick decisions and acting promptly, often without knowing the entirety of the situation.

Competencies required: analyzing & interpreting data, professional & technical expertise, using technology, attention to detail, displaying ownership and accountability, handling stress, learning agility, professional integrity & ethics, oral communication, writing, customer focus, professional impact, teamwork.

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