Police Dispatcher

Police Dispatcher

Salary

$80,561.94 - $95,682.08 Annually

Location

Pasadena City Hall, CA

Job Type

Full -Time

Job Number

26-174

Department

Police

Opening Date

05/21/2026

Closing Date

6/11/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

The Pasadena Police Department is looking for energetic, highly detailed, and effective communicators to join our team of professionals in handling and dispatching 9-1-1 emergency calls for the City of Pasadena. The ideal candidate should be committed, conscientious, and motivated to help people and provide excellent customer service to both external and internal customers. Police Dispatchers currently work a 3/12 work schedule that includes nights, weekends and holidays. This is an excellent and rewarding career opportunity to join a World Class law enforcement agency.

Come join our team!

About the Communications Team

Our Communications team is committed to providing timely and professional service to every call for help for the safety and security of the public. We are motivated, dedicated, and trained professionals who provide the vital link between citizens and Public Safety personnel. We embrace and infuse the values of pride, professionalism, and integrity into all aspects of our operations. We work in a newly remodeled Communications Center with mountain views and ergonomic workstations. We offer work schedules that provide around the clock coverage.

Click here to learn more about us and to view an informational video on the communications team.

Must type 45 net words per minute with 95% accuracy. Please see the "Special Requirements" section of the job posting for further details. Since you have this information under special requirements, I think this should suffice so your introductory paragraphs take precedence.

Essential Functions

The major responsibilities of this position are listed below. For further information, please review the job description.

• Operates radio, automated telephone and computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems to receive and transmit non-emergency and emergency 9-1-1 calls from the public.
• Evaluates, prioritizes and sequences incoming information and determines number and type of units to send to an incident; determines nature and priority of calls and/or transfers calls to the appropriate agency.
• Dispatches police personnel and equipment to incidents according to established procedures.
• Maintains radio contact with police units on assignments; notifies other departments of needed support services.
• Monitors the status of police units and their locations.
• Monitors radio frequencies for mutual aid.
• Keeps appropriate supervisory personnel informed of the situation and dispatches additional personnel and equipment as directed.
• Notifies other jurisdictions when necessary.
• Responds to field unit requests via radio or telephone for information, tow truck, paramedic/fire department, animal control and notification of hospitals or other law enforcement agencies.
• Performs inquires via CLETS, DOJ, National Crime Information Center, FBI, Stolen Vehicle Systems.
• Receives, enters and relays situational information such as suspect descriptions, location updates and other responders in the area to field units.
• Notifies other agencies and departments by telephone or radio in order to coordinate activities.
• Testifies in court as necessary.
• Enters, maintains, retrieves, and interprets data in police department computer systems (e.g., Computer Aided Dispatch and Records Management System).
• May perform emergency call out dispatch duties for several municipal entities, such as Public Works, Code Enforcement, etc.
• Trains new Police Dispatchers and provide daily and weekly input on progress and performance to supervisors as needed.

Qualification Guidelines

COMPETENCIES

The following list represents the core competencies needed for success in this position.

• Attention to Detail- focuses on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products.
• Critical Thinking- analytically and logically evaluates information, propositions, and claims.
• Decision Making- chooses optimal courses of action in a timely manner.
• Handling Stress- maintains emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity.
• Informing- proactively obtains and shares information.
• Oral Communication- engages effectively in dialogue.
• Self-Management- shows personal organization, self-discipline, and dependability.
• Teamwork- collaborates with others to achieve shared goals.
• Using Technology- works with electronic hardware including radio systems and software applications.
• Writing- communicates effectively in writing.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Graduation from high school or GED equivalent, and at least one year of responsible experience in interacting with the public and performing general clerical duties.
• Radio operation, computer assisted dispatching and teletype experience is preferred.

SELECTION PROCESS

The selection process may consist of a training and experience evaluation, written test, interview panel, and department-level interviews.

WRITTEN TEST- The City of Pasadena is administering the California POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery. The POST Dispatcher Test is designed to measure aptitude for performing public safety dispatcher work. The POST Applicant Preparation Guide provides further information about the written exam and how to prepare. Attendance to the written exam is mandatory unless a waiver is requested and approved.

WRITTEN EXAM WAIVER - You may request a waiver by submitting a minimum T-score of 48 for a California POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery exam taken with an outside agency within one year from application submittal. Candidates with a minimum T-score of 48 will not be required to attend the written examination. (To be considered for a waiver request, you must attach a copy of your T-score to your application upon submittal.) The T-score must be on agency letterhead from the agency that administered the written exam.

POST 30-Day Rule: Applicants must wait a period of one month (30 calendar days) before taking a subsequent exam. If you have taken or will take the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery exam 30 days prior to our scheduled exam (date to be determined), you will be ineligible to take the written exam. If this is the case, you will be asked to re-apply.

ORAL INTERVIEW EXAMINATION - (Weight 100%) - Applicants will be asked 5-10 questions to assess communication skills, knowledge of Pasadena, interest in public safety, and what they have done to prepare for a dispatcher role. A scenario question will further assess the ability to stay calm, think fast, and multi-task under pressure. This is an opportunity to demonstrate understanding of the role and critical tasks, professionalism, teamwork, and commitment to serving the community. Candidates who successfully pass this exam component will be placed on the eligible list.

ELIGIBLE LIST- Your score from the oral interview will determine your placement and ranking on the eligible list. If you receive a qualifying score, you will remain on the eligible list for one year. During the life of the eligible list, candidates may be certified to the Police Department for a selection interview and if selected, a comprehensive background investigation.

VACANCIES

There are currently several vacancies in the Police Department which may be filled as a result of this selection process.

Candidates selected for this position are subject to an 18-month probationary work period. Bargaining Unit: LIUNA

Special Requirements

Successful completion of the state-mandated CLETS training program as required by the California State Department of Justice within six months of date of employment and ongoing maintenance of CLETS certification.

A California POST Basic Public Safety Dispatcher Certificate must be obtained within the first year of employment and maintained as a condition of continued employment.

Must type 45 net words per minute with 95% accuracy. Please note that qualified applicants will be invited to take an online typing test administered by the City. Applicants that do not receive a passing score on the online typing test will not be considered for further consideration. Please do not attach a typing certificate to your application. Current City of Pasadena employees who hold a position that requires the same or more words per minute are not required to take the online typing test. Employees are responsible for verifying the typing requirement for their current classification.

Successful completion of a comprehensive background investigation is required which may include a review of employment history, criminal conviction record, credit history, use of intoxicants and/or other controlled substances, and psychological evaluation.

A Police Dispatcher must be available to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, holidays, day, swing or graveyard shifts, including some mandated overtime when required. Our hours are 0530-1800 hours and 1730-0600.

The City of Pasadena contracts with the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) to manage our defined benefits program for eligible employees. CalPERS manages the pension and health benefits to more than 1.6 million public employees, retirees, and their families and more than 3,000 employers.

Effective January 1, 2013, new members to CalPERS will be subject to the provisions of the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) and will receive the 2% @ 62 benefit formula (if a miscellaneous employee) and 2.7% at 57 benefit formula (if a safety employee).

Employees who are deemed "Classic" members of CalPERS or a reciprocal system such as the Los Angeles County Employees' Retirement System (LACERA) or Los Angeles City Employees Retirement System (LACERS) will receive the 2.5% @ 55 benefit formula (if a miscellaneous employee) or 3% at 55 benefit formula (if a safety employee). A CalPERS "Classic" member is a member who previously worked for a California public agency and meets the following criteria:

• First established CalPERS membership or membership in a CalPERS reciprocal agency prior to January 1, 2013,
• And is hired by the City of Pasadena after a break in service of less than six months
• And did not have concurrent (overlapping) service with the other agency.

01

Do you have one year or more of general clerical experience?

• Yes
• No

02

How many years of responsible radio operation, computer assisted dispatching and teletype experience do you possess?

• No Experience but willing to learn
• 1-2 years
• More than 2 years

03

This position requires that you be available to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, holidays, day, swing or graveyard shifts. Are you able to meet this requirement?

• Yes
• No

04

My participation in the Police Dispatcher written exam with the City of Pasadena is as follows:

• I will participate in the City of Pasadena's California POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery exam by attending the next test administration.
• I am requesting that the Entry-Level Dispatcher exam be waived, as I have proof of a T-score for a California POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery exam taken from an outside agency within one year from time of application. I have a T-score of 48 or above. (To be considered for a waiver request, you must attach a copy of your T-score to your application upon submittal. The T-score must be on letterhead from the agency that administered the written exam.)

05

Based on your response to the previous question, if you are requesting to have the written exam waived, you MUST provide your social security number in this format XXX-XX-XXX . This will allow our agency to verify your Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery T-score (from the results notice on letterhead that you attached to your application) with the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST). *This information is for agency use only. PLEASE NOTE: There is no need to provide your social security number if you plan to attend the written exam. If this applies to you, your response should be "not applicable" .

Required Question

Employer City of Pasadena

Address 100 N. Garfield Ave., Rm S135

P. O. Box 7115

Pasadena, California, 91109-7215

Phone (626) 744-4366

(626) 744-4366

Website http://www.cityofpasadena.net/humanresources