Sheriff's Dispatcher I
3 days ago
Martinez
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. Minimum Qualifications License required: possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License. Out of State valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license will be accepted during the application process. Education: possession of a high school diploma, G.E.D. equivalency or high school proficiency certificate. Typing proficiency: ability to accurately type at a speed not less than 40 words per minute. Other requirements: must pass a thorough background investigation, medical screening, and psychological evaluation prior to employment. Selection Process Application filing and evaluation: All applicants must apply online and submit a completed Supplemental Questionnaire at the time of application. Applications and supplemental questionnaires will be reviewed to determine which candidates demonstrate the best qualifications for the position and will be invited to participate in the next phase of the recruitment process. Applications must be submitted online no later than 11:59 p.m. on the last day for filing. Applications received after the deadline will be considered for the next testing cycle. Typing Proficiency Assessment (Administered Remotely): Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to participate in an online typing assessment. The assessment will be administered remotely and will consist of three (3) three-minute timed typing tests. An average net minimum of 40 net WPM is required in order to advance to the next phase. (Weighted 0%) A typing certification will NOT be accepted in lieu of the required typing assessment. Contra Costa County reserves the right to require test takers to take parallel version of this assessment in a proctored setting in order to confirm their identities as the original test takers if they are advance in the recruitment. Any violation of these requirements may result in disqualification from this and any future examinations. CritiCall Performance Assessment (On-Site, Martinez): Applicants who pass the typing assessment will be invited to participate in the in-person CritiCall Dispatcher Skills Assessment. This computer-based test evaluates a broad range of skills required for dispatching. These skills include, but are not limited to: decision-making, data entry, rural map reading, call summarization, call prioritization, memory recall, spelling, ability to multitask and reading comprehension. Candidates are eligible to participate in the CritiCall assessment once every six (6) months. (Weighted 100%) Contra Costa County - Human Resources does not provide CritiCall test prep help. Test information is available by visiting the vendor's website at: CritiCall - FAQs Departmental Interviews: Candidates who successfully complete all prior phases of the selection process will be invited to participate in a departmental interview. Assessment dates are based on the filing period in which an application is received. Once an applicant's eligibility has been determined, they will be provided with the assessment dates that correspond to their filing period and will be able to self-select their preferred date within that assigned assessment window. Available testing slots are 8:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 2:00 PM. Please plan accordingly. Once applicants have selected an assessment date and time, rescheduling may not be permitted. Applicants who do not appear for their selected test date will be required to reapply after six (6) months. Filing Period: - Assessment Dates January 1 to January 11, 2026 - Feb 7, 8 January 12 to February 8, 2026 - Mar 7, 8 February 23 to March 8, 2026 - Apr 4, 5 March 13 to April 5, 2026 - May 2, 3 April 6 to May 3, 2026 - Jun 6, 7 May 11 to June 5, 2026 - July 11, 12 June 6 to July 5, 2026 - Aug 1, 2 July 14 to August 3, 2026 - Sept 12, 13 August 14 to September 7, 2026 - Oct 3, 4 September 8 to October 4, 2026 - Nov 7, 8 October 12 to November 1, 2026 - Dec 5, 6 Applicants interested in applying after 11/1/2026, will need to wait until January 2027 The Human Resources Department may change the examination steps noted above in accordance with the Personnel Management Regulations and accepted selection practices. For recruitment specific questions, please contact Norma Martinez at Norma.Martinez@hrd.cccounty.us. For any technical issues, please contact the GovernmentJobs' applicant support team for assistance at +1 855-524-5627. After you receive a conditional job offer, you will be fingerprinted, and your fingerprints will be sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history (if any) will be used to determine whether the nature of your conviction conflicts