Public Safety Dispatcher

About the Department

Under general supervision, the Public Safety Dispatcher answers calls at the Scott Emergency Communications Center and dispatches emergency calls to emergency responders and non-emergency call to the appropriate resources or agency in accordance with established procedures. As part of the hiring process, all applicants will need to complete the following steps: CritiCall Applicant Testing -offered online or in person at SECC from December 8-29, 2025. First Interview -held in person at SECC between January 5-9, 2026. Dispatch Sit-Along & Second Interview -conducted in person at SECC from January 12-23, 2026. The tentative start date for selected candidates is mid-February 2026.

Position Duties

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class. Employees are required to be in attendance and prepared to begin work at their assigned work location on the specified days and hours. Factors such as regular attendance at the job are not routinely listed in job descriptions, but are an essential function. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Answers incoming emergency calls; obtains required information for emergency responses and enters related information into the computer aided dispatch (CAD) system; prioritizes calls for service and notifies outside supervises when officers or deputies are unavailable for immediate response.

Dispatches police, sheriff, and fire departments in accordance with established policies and procedures; utilizes CAD system to track and monitor the status of responding personnel

Answers all non-emergency, alarm, and administrative calls; obtains all pertinent call information and enters a call for service into CAD system; refers call to appropriate agency or resource.

Monitors and responds to all NCIC/ IOWA tele-messages sent to the NCIC terminal; completes inquiries as requested by officers, authorized personnel, or other authorizes agencies.

Enters and clears warrants, stolen vehicles, missing persons, and missing or stolen articles into appropriate system; enters and modifies orders of protection as necessary.

Attends and participates in training and continuing education as required to maintain all required certifications.

Operates all radio consoles and support equipment; notifies management of any equipment issues.

Demonstrates the ability to exemplify, by his/her actions, the County PRIDE philosophy.

Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Training, and Experience Guidelines:
High school diploma or GED equivalent; AND some previous customer service or dispatch experience; OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Knowledge of:
Applicable local, State, and Federal laws, codes, regulations, and ordinance.

Scott County and surrounding county geography.

Customer service principles, practices, and etiquette.

Critical thinking principles and practices.

Records maintenance policies, procedures, and practices.

Skill in:
Maintaining composure in high stress situations.

Operating a computer including standard software and some specialized software; using multiple monitors.

Typing and entering data with speed and accuracy.

Maintaining accurate records and technical documentation.

Completing multiple tasks simultaneously and with frequent interruptions.

Establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships.

Communicating effectively verbally and in writing.

Other Qualifications

License and Certification Requirements
Must obtain Emergency Fire Dispatcher, Emergency Police Dispatcher, and NCIC certifications within one (1) year of hire.
Must successfully complete Emergency Telecommunicator training within one (1) year of hire.

Physical Demands and Working Environment:
Work is performed indoors in the Scott Emergency Communications Center and requires sitting for long periods of time.