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Police Dispatcher (Entry Level & Experienced)

Salary

$69,804.80 - $89,086.40 Annually

Location

91942, CA

Job Type

Regular Full-Time

Job Number

25-26

Department

Police Department

Opening Date

07/10/2025

Closing Date

10/10/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

Position Summary

City of La Mesa - "The Jewel of the Hills"

Announces An Exceptional Career Opportunity

POLICE DISPATCHER

Future Scheduled Salary Increases:

3.0% increase effective July 1, 2026

Educational incentive Pay

Based on 5% of Step E of the Police Dispatcher pay range for a BASIC P.O.S.T. Certificate

Dispatcher Training Pay

Any Police Dispatcher who is assigned as a "Training Officer" will receive an additional 5% in salary during the time he/she continues in the training assignment for increments of one (1) hour or more.

Up to $15,000 Hiring Incentive Bonus for LATERAL candidates available!

$2,000 - Completion of hiring process

$3,000 - Successful completion of the LMPD Field Training Program

$5,000 - 2 years of service with successful performance & possession of Basic P.O.S.T. Certification at time of hire

OR

$10,000 - 2 years of service with successful performance & possession of Intermediate or Advanced P.O.S.T. Certification at time of hire

The La Mesa Police Department seeks your interest in a unique career opportunity as a Police Dispatcher. A Police Dispatcher is responsible for all incoming telephone calls to the Police Department, including 9-1-1 calls; handling the Police Radio; and documenting all activities in a computer-aided dispatch program while operating multiple computer systems.

The ideal candidate has the following characteristics and skills:

+ Exceptional multi-tasking ability

+ Strong decision-making ability in a high stress environment

+ Excellent listening, verbal, and written communication skills

+ Attention to detail, accuracy, and thoroughness

+ A team-player mentality and perspective; adaptable, dependable, and highly productive

+ Emotional maturity, patience and a positive attitude

+ Shows initiative and professional assertiveness

+ A heart to serve the public in a highly rewarding, unique career

+ Thrives in a fast-paced, intellectually challenging environment

+ Capable of handling the unexpected in a competent manner.

The La Mesa Police Department maintains the highest commitment to the community through service, honor, integrity and professionalism. If you are ready to join our tradition of excellence, we welcome your interest - APPLY TODAY!

Key Responsibilities

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

+ Receive emergency calls from the public requesting police or other emergency service; determine nature, location and priority of calls and dispatch units accordingly; transfer calls to appropriate agency in accordance with established procedures.

+ Obtain and dispatch other support services including helicopter support, tactical teams, bomb squad, canine, public works, fire department, medical response, highway patrol and border patrol.

+ Maintain contact with all units on assignment through computer aided dispatch; maintain status and location of police field units; maintain computer records of traffic stops and other officer-initiated activity.

+ Operate a variety of public safety communications equipment including a multi-channel radio, 911 emergency telephone equipment, computer aided dispatch systems, instant recall recorders, and paging and intercom systems. Type minimum of 40 nwpm.

+ Operate computer terminals and teletype machine to enter, modify, and retrieve data such as stolen and recovered property, towed and stolen vehicles, missing and unidentified persons, citations, field interviews, driver license and vehicle registration information, and warrants on wanted persons; compose and transmit messages to other agencies.

+ Retrieve information from State and National computer networks regarding wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration, stolen vehicles, restraining orders, criminal histories, parolees and other related information; relay information to officers in the field.

+ Perform minor routine maintenance on department equipment including dispatch and general office machines; request service and repairs as necessary.

+ Perform related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education/Training:

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by specialized training in communications, public safety dispatch or a related field.

Experience:

+ Entry Level: At least one year experience in a field requiring extensive public contact. Experience in a call center environment is desirable.

+ Experienced: At least one year experience in a law enforcement agency as an emergency call taker AND radio operator (must be law enforcement dispatching). Experience in operation of a computer aided dispatch system (CAD) is required.

Certificate:

+ Possession of a typing certificate less than one year old (40 net words per minute). The typing certificate must include the name and address of the issuing institution and date of the test. Online typing certificates will not be accepted. Successful candidates who make it to the CritiCall test will be required to show proficiency in typing at least 40 nwpm prior to final appointment to this position.

+ A P.O.S.T. Basic Complaint/Dispatcher Certificate is required within one year of appointment.

Examination Process

Interested applicants are encouraged to submit an online application and reply to the supplemental questionnaire immediately. This recruitment will remain open to accepting applications until the needs of the City are met. Interested candidate are encouraged to apply immediately. Unless specifically stated otherwise in this announcement, all requirements must be met at the time of application, and all required licenses and certificates must be current and valid.

Candidates who meet minimum qualifications for this position, and whose overall qualifications best meet the needs of the City will be invited to participate in a CritiCall performance aptitude test. Candidates passing the CritiCall test will be invited to an appraisal interview. Selected candidates will begin the background investigation process. The CritiCall test may be waived for candidates accepted for lateral consideration and for candidates who have successfully passed the CritiCall test administered by the City of La Mesa within the last six months.

NOTE: Candidates under consideration for employment must undergo a polygraph examination and successfully pass a thorough background investigation. Refer to the La Mesa Police Department Background Disqualifying Factors. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment P.O.S.T. medical evaluation and psychological evaluation. The medical evaluation includes an alcohol/drug screen.

Schedule of Events:

October 10, 2025 - Recruitment Closes

Weekly Application Review

CritiCall Test and/or Appraisal Interview - Eligible candidates will be notified when dates have been established.

The City of La Mesa offers a comprehensive benefit package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. Click here (https://www.cityoflamesa.us/DocumentCenter/View/22735/Sworn-and-Non-Sworn-Police-Employees-July-2024-PDF) for a summary of La Mesa Police Officer's Association benefits for Sworn and Non-Sworn employees.

For additional detailed information regarding salaries and benefits, please review the La Mesa Police Officers Association MOU (https://www.cityoflamesa.us/DocumentCenter/View/23956/Police-Officer-Association-MOU---with-side-letter-11-2024-PDF) .

01

Each applicant must complete this supplemental questionnaire as part of the application screening and selection process. The information you provide will be reviewed and used to determine your eligibility to continue in the selection process. Resumes in lieu of this questionnaire will not be accepted. Please be as descriptive as possible in your responses. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Do you agree to answer each supplemental question truthfully and that your responses can be verified from information included within the application?

+ Yes

+ No

02

Do you have experience as a law enforcement emergency call taker AND radio operator (Experienced Dispatcher)?

+ None

+ Less than 1 Year

+ 1 to 3 Years

+ 3+ Years

03

Describe your experience as a law enforcement emergency call taker and radio operator (include name of employer(s) and years of service). If no experience, type "n/a."

04

Please indicate which systems, if any, you have experience in operating.

+ ARJIS

+ e-SUN

+ SDLaw

+ CLETS

+ San Diego/Imperial County 800Mhz Regional Communications System (RCS)

+ None

05

Please describe your experience with ARJIS, e-SUN, SDLaw, CLETS, and/or the San Diego/Imperial County 800MhZ Regional Communications Systems? If no experience, type "n/a."

06

Do you have experience in operation of a computer aided dispatch system (CAD) (Experienced Dispatcher)?

+ None

+ Less than 1 Year

+ 1 to 3 Years

+ 3+ Years

07

Describe your experience operating a CAD system (include name of employer(s) and years of service). If no experience, type "n/a."

08

Do you have specialized training in communications, public safety dispatch, or a related field?

+ Yes

+ No

09

Describe your specialized training in communications, public safety dispatch, and/or related field. If no experience, type "n/a."

10

Do you possess a P.O.S.T. Basic Complaint/Dispatcher certificate? If yes, attach a copy to your application.

+ Yes

+ No

11

Do you possess a typing certificate of 40 net words per minute that is less than one year old? (online typing certificates will not be accepted). If yes, please attach a copy to your application.

+ Yes

+ No

12

I understand that the City is currently waiving the requirement of attaching a current typing certificate at the time of application and that I will be required to provide proof of proficiency in typing 40 nwpm prior to hire.

+ Yes

+ No

13

If you were referred by a La Mesa Police Department employee to apply for this position, please provide their name below. By including this referral, you are certifying that the referred person informed and/or assisted you in the recruitment process and acknowledge that you will not be eligible for any portion of any incentive award provided to the referrer.

14

Dispatchers work both day and night shifts which are very similar to shifts worked by police officers. Historically, new dispatchers will work several years on the night shift, which run from 5:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. Are you available to work any and all shifts, including nights, early mornings, weekends or holidays?

+ Yes

+ No

15

APPLICANT'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT - NOTIFICATION VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL (E-MAIL): The City of La Mesa Human Resources Division uses e-mail to notify our applicants of important information relating to the status and processing of your application. Therefore, as an applicant, you are hereby advised of the following: 1. Ensure that the e-mail address and contact information you provide is current, secure, and readily accessible to you. Do not share e-mail addresses. Spam or other filters should be adjusted to accept our e-mails. We will not be responsible in any way if you do not receive our e-mail notifications, i.e., for the non-delivery of e-mail or if you fail to check your e-mail inbox on a timely basis, etc. 2. Carefully read any notices that we send in a timely manner. Follow further instructions, if any. We recommend that you print and keep a hard copy of our notices for your records. I acknowledge that I have read, understand, and agree to the above.

+ Yes

+ No

Required Question

Employer

City of La Mesa

Address

8130 Allison Avenue La Mesa, California, 91942

Phone

619-667-1175

Website

http://www.cityoflamesa.us

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