Sheriff's Dispatcher I - Permanent and Limited Term

About The Position

Do you have excellent communication skills and work well with a diverse group of people? The Sheriff's Office is seeking self-motivated professionals to be dispatchers. As a Dispatcher, you are responsible for monitoring, receiving, and dispatching routine and emergency radio communications to and from Sheriff's patrol units and other law enforcement or public safety agencies.

• Responsible for securing and recording information as to the nature of a reported problem and identifying the exact location.
• Operate a CLETS (California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System) computer terminal to obtain or verify information and maintain required logs of calls and incidents.
• Prepare reports, provide information and assistance to the public, and determine availability and location of patrol units to dispatch.
• The County of San Luis Obispo's Sheriff's Dispatch Center provides coverage to San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, and Arroyo Grande.
• The written examination component of this recruitment will be held on Thursday, July 30, 2026. Click here to learn more about the Sheriff's Dispatch Center. Click here to view detailed job description.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have an interest in corrections or law enforcement, possess excellent communication and multi-tasking skills, as well as be able to exercise good judgment in emergency situations. Strong powers of observation, memory, logical reasoning, and judgment are desired. As a Dispatcher, being able to understand and carry out oral and written instructions; speak clearly; listen attentively; remember names, locations and numbers; read maps quickly and accurately; establish effective working relationships; and tactfully handle irate or upset individuals is key. Telephone operation and etiquette and the ability to learn geography of the County is a must. Excellent computer software skills with the ability to quickly and accurately type data is required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ability to type at a speed of 45 net wpm.
• Graduation from high school or possession of a General Education Development (GED) Certificate.
• Any combination of education, training, and experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities.
• Work experience receiving information and simultaneously performing data entry is desirable.

How To Apply

Applications, including answers to supplemental questions, must be submitted online by the final filing date. To apply for this position, click "apply" at the top of this page. Most County recruitments require you to respond to supplemental questions as part of the application process. We recommend that you review these questions prior to beginning your application. An initial application review will be conducted. Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications and are best qualified will be invited to participate in selection activities which may include online assessments, performance exams, written exams, and interviews. Final candidates will be required to have an in-depth background review performed before proceeding in the process. Please note that references will not be contacted until the end of the process. If you have questions or would like to discuss the opportunity further, please contact Human Resources at hr@co.slo.ca.us. Confidential inquiries are welcomed. For further information regarding the County of San Luis Obispo, visit our website at www.slocounty.ca.gov.

Schedule

A new shift starts every January, May and September. About six weeks before, shift pick is conducted where dispatchers, by seniority, select from days, cover or nights, and within those choose their days off and hours. Dispatchers work 12 hour shifts and often are required to work overtime.

Work Assignments & Training

The probationary period is one year and comprised of approximately four to six months of one-on-one training with daily and weekly evaluations, and the remainder is OJT (On the Job Training). During this time the trainee is solely responsible for their duty stations and will receive bi-weekly evaluations.

Other Conditions of Employment

• Employees in this class will be required to work weekends, holidays and irregular hours.
• Character: Good moral character as determined by a thorough background investigation, including a fingerprint and record check.

Reasonable Accommodation Notice

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment. Please call 805-781-5959 for assistance or e-mail hr@co.slo.ca.us for more information.

Veteran's Preference Points

If you are applying for employment with the County of San Luis Obispo and you served in the United States Armed Forces, you may be eligible for veteran's preference points as part of the recruitment process. Some dependents and survivors of eligible veterans may also be eligible for preference points. Click here for more information and to learn how to apply for this benefit. Please note that Veteran’s credits must be on file with the County of San Luis Obispo Veterans Services Office prior to the recruitment closing date indicated on the job announcement.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The County is an equal opportunity employer. Objectives are directed toward assuring equal opportunity in selection/promotion, pay, and job assignments. Recruitment and selection procedures have been established to ensure non-discrimination on the basis of political or religious opinions or affiliations, age, sex, race, color, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or other non-merit factors. In addition, the County complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act in hiring and retaining employees. For more information contact the Human Resources Department at (805)781-5959.