Communication Technician – 911 Dispatcher

Application deadline: 2026-08-28

About the role

Join Portage County as a Communication Technician with the Portage County Sheriff’s Office. You’ll be part of a dedicated team committed to preserving life and property, serving the community with care and professionalism, and delivering emergency and non-emergency communications.

Responsibilities

• Answer 10 emergent 911 phone lines and 9 non-emergent phone lines
• Monitor over 20 radio channels
• Page Fire, EMS, Medical Examiner, and activate weather sirens
• Create and send community alert notifications (emergent and non-emergent)
• Dispatch services for Portage County Sheriff’s Office, Stevens Point and Plover Police Departments, 33 EMS and Fire Agencies, and other agencies in Portage County
• Research information for Deputies, Officers, and Detectives across three law enforcement agencies and UWSP Police
• Enter warrants, missing persons, stolen vehicles or properties, and restraining orders for multiple law enforcement agencies

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Must be 18 years old and a US Citizen
• No felony convictions unless pardoned by the Governor

Qualifications

One or more of the following preferred:

• Six months or more experience in emergency dispatch or related law enforcement
• One year work experience or four years of volunteer fire, ambulance, or rescue experience
• Six months or more experience in customer service and/or in a call center environment
• Public Safety Communications Dispatch diploma from an accredited Technical school
• One year military communications experience involving direct voice broadcasting for military police and emergency equipment
• Information technology experience

Skills

• Ability to multi-task and multi-listen with strong active listening skills
• Quick decision-making and ability to prioritize emergency situations
• Computer skills with the ability to use multiple screens
• Strong customer service skills and ability to work as a team
• Ability to handle high-stress situations, sometimes for extended periods during high call volumes
• Ability to visualize information and think outside the box
• Detail-oriented

Benefits

• Vacation available on day one
• Health insurance: choice of two plans (Health Savings Account with High Deductible Health Plan and County contribution, or PPO Co-pay plan)
• Wellness incentive plan: earn up to $600 per year
• Flexible spending account
• Dental insurance
• State of Wisconsin Retirement Plan with County contribution of 7.2%
• Paid holidays
• Paid sick leave
• Life insurance (premium paid by the County for employees working a minimum of 30 hrs/wk)
• Long-term disability insurance (premium paid by the County for employees working a minimum of 30 hrs/wk)
• Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) paid by the County
• 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan

Pay

Starting at $25.09 per hour in 2026.