Public Safety Dispatcher - Entry

Position Information

The City of Chico and Chico PD provides long-term career opportunities and the ability for greater growth within the Division! Successful Public Safety Dispatcher - Entry employees may later qualify to promote through the career ladder to Dispatcher - Intermediate, Dispatcher - Advanced, and even Communications Supervisor! Positions at Chico PD Dispatch are more than "just a job," they're a career!
This recruitment it to fill 7 positions in Dispatch.

The training process:

TESTING: Candidates for this position are required to take the CritiCall exam. For more information and a test preparation guide, please visit:
https://criticall911.com/dispatcher-testing/applicants

Salary placement upon hire: Employees may expect to be placed on the salary range between steps A - C; however, additional steps may be considered based on prior education and experience.

Union: Dispatchers are represented by the Chico Public Safety Association (CPSA) labor group.

Under supervision, to receive training and to operate a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in the capacity of a first responder; to perform assigned clerical work relating to public safety records and operations; and to perform related work as required.

Job Description

This is the trainee-level classification in the Dispatcher series. Trainees work in the communications center and receive on-the-job training, specific day-to-day direction and are closely supervised. Incumbents at this level are not expected to function with the same amount of knowledge or skills as positions allocated to Public Safety Dispatcher Intermediate and Advanced. Although work is performed within established policies and procedures, it requires the exercise of sound judgment in emergency situations.

Examples of Typical Job Functions (Illustrative Only)

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations where appropriate so qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Receive and prioritize incoming emergency calls from the public requesting police, fire or other emergency assistance;
• Maintain citizen confidentiality, as required;
• Determine nature and location of emergency, determine priorities, and dispatch via computer-aided dispatch system police, fire, medical, or other emergency services as necessary and in accordance with established procedures;
• Maintain contact with all units on assignment;
• Maintain status and location of police and fire units;
• Communicate with persons in crisis, including persons in altered states such as intoxication or under the influence of drugs;
• Answer non-emergency calls for assistance;
• Call out City maintenance workers for maintenance emergencies;
• Enter, update, and retrieve information from a variety of computer systems;
• Receive requests for information from computer systems and provide pertinent data;
• Monitor several complex public safety radio frequencies;
• Operate a variety of communications equipment including computerized radio consoles, telephones, and computer equipment;
• Process a wide variety of public safety records, files, logs, reports, and forms;*
• Operate office equipment;
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Geographic features and streets of the City of Chico;
• Correct English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Ability to:

• Type a minimum of 45 words per minute;
• Learn to operate standard telephone and computerized radio communications equipment and computer-aided dispatch system;
• Learn and use standard broadcasting procedures and rules;
• Learn and correctly use public safety classification codes and basic provisions of the California Vehicle and Penal Codes;
• Speak clearly and precisely;
• Exercise good judgment and make sound decisions in emergency situations;
• Effectively communicate with and elicit information from citizens faced with emergency situations;
• Exercise independent judgment and work with minimal supervision;
• Comprehend and make inferences from written materials;
• Handle simultaneous events effectively;
• Handle confidential matters with a high degree of discretion;
• Understand and carry out oral and written instructions;
• Work cooperatively with others.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Education:
High school graduation or equivalent.

Experience:
One year of experience in clerical or public safety dispatching.

Desired Qualifications:
Experience/Education: Experience in dealing with difficult or distressed individuals is desirable.

Unless a position is permanently allocated to a Public Safety Dispatcher Entry level due to the nature of the work, employee may be promoted, pursuant to the flexibly staffed nature of the classification series, to the Public Safety Dispatcher II level as responsibility and experience increases.

Licenses and Certifications:
Possession of a valid California Driver License.

Additional Information

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job includes close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Work is frequently performed in emergency and stressful situations.

Environmental Conditions

The noise level in the work environment is moderately noisy. Work shifts cover 24 hours per day and seven days per week including holidays.

The City of Chico offers a wide range of employee benefits. Benefits are subject to negotiations with employee organizations and may vary with individual bargaining units. For a summary of benefits, please visit the City of Chico website at: City of Chico - Employee Benefits

Closing Date/Time: 8/9/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

City of Chico

530-879-7905 Show more