Dispatcher I

About the Role

This is a dispatcher position with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office at the Emergency Communications Center. The role involves varied and skilled communications work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment requiring accurate, rapid decision-making. Dispatchers are the first point of contact during emergencies—often during the worst moments of someone’s life—and play a critical role in the safety of both the public and responding deputies. The position requires quick thinking, emotional control, and strong communication skills, with a high degree of independence after training.

Responsibilities

• Answer and evaluate emergency (911) and non-emergency calls for service with professionalism, urgency, and empathy.
• Ask critical questions under pressure to assess the nature and severity of emergencies.
• Dispatch Madison County Sheriff’s Office deputies, fire services, and other emergency responders using radio and computer systems.
• Maintain continuous radio communication with field units, providing accurate, timely, and potentially life-saving information.
• Handle difficult and emotionally intense calls (e.g., domestic violence, accidents, active threats, medical emergencies) while remaining calm and in control.
• Accurately log all calls for service and radio activity using the Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system in real-time.
• Prioritize and manage multiple calls and incidents simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Understand and follow protocols for high-risk situations, including vehicle pursuits, armed suspects, and officer assistance requests.
• Communicate and collaborate with surrounding law enforcement agencies and first responders as needed.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and comply with all federal, state, and agency privacy laws and guidelines.

Requirements

• Graduation from high school or GED.
• Experience receiving, evaluating, transmitting, or monitoring emergency requests via telephone or radio, or customer service experience with extensive public interaction is preferred.
• Knowledge of the street system and geography of the community and county.
• Ability to speak in a well-modulated voice and interact professionally with the public and colleagues.
• Typing speed of at least 45 words per minute.
• Must pass a CritiCall test (minimum score 80%) measuring multitasking and map-reading skills.
• Must complete the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Public Safety Telecommunicator course.
• Must pass a drug screen, physical with audiogram, and criminal background check.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Physical Requirements

• Work is essentially sedentary with occasional walking, standing, or bending.
• Must respond quickly to phone and radio communications.
• Ability to sit in confined seating for extended periods and operate a computer keyboard.
• Must have sufficient vision to read computer terminals, printouts, and reports.
• Must have sufficient hearing to understand radio traffic with background noise and speak clearly on the radio.

Schedule

• Work rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Must be available for shift coverage or mandatory overtime during emergencies, often with little notice.

Applicants must complete a typing test (minimum 40 WPM with 90% accuracy) and CritiCall Exam, with testing taking up to 2 hours at the facility.