Call Taker

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

Our mission is to provide prompt assistance in a caring, resourceful and professional manner to those we serve. The Deschutes County 9-1-1 Service District became a consolidated public safety dispatching agency in 1988, taking all calls for police, fire, and medical service assistance in Deschutes County. The District dispatches for 15 police and fire/emergency medical services (EMS) agencies and works closely with the U.S. Forest Service, Air Link, Life Flight, Oregon State Police, and other State and Federal entities.

Are you interested in joining a talented team and serving your community? If so, we invite you to review additional information by clicking HERE.

We know where you choose to live, work and play matters. Deschutes County is one of the largest employers in Central Oregon and the largest municipal government in the region. Our dedicated and passionate workforce of more than 1,250 employees provide County services in a number of departments, divisions, and offices.

Located in the heart of Central Oregon, between the towering Cascade Mountain Range to the west and the high desert plateau to the east, Deschutes County is the outdoor recreation capital of Oregon. We enjoy a renowned quality of life, with big-city opportunities and small-town neighborhoods.

The 9-1-1 Call Taker is the first person that talks to a person in an emergency. They are the critical decision maker in properly assessing the situation, interviewing the caller and getting the information entered into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system to be dispatched out to police, fire or medical.

The 9-1-1 Call Taker provides computer-aided emergency and non-emergency dispatch services for all local law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services agencies within Deschutes County. Dispatchers operate complex communications equipment, multi-line telephone systems and computer terminals to access and input information. This position requires the ability to maintain accuracy and speed while performing job duties, often under stressful situations.

• Apply: Submit your application through the website once the job opens for recruitment. No resume or cover letter are needed. We will get to know you through the supplemental questions which we will review at the phone interview step. It is essential that you list complete and accurate information on your job history on the application. Incomplete information may disqualify you.
• Testing: We are responsible for capturing information and relaying it to our partners quickly. To be successful, you need to type a minimum of 42 words per minute at 90% accuracy.
• Criti Call Test: This is an online test where we look for underlying skills and abilities important for the work. The test involves components such as memorization, map reading and reading comprehension. You can learn more here:
• First Interviews: A thirty-minute phone interview comprised of five questions with a member of our leadership team.
• Sit Alongs Testing: Successful candidates are invited to spend 2-3 hours  first hour is sitting with a telecommunicator with a focus on answering 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls, the second hour is sitting with a telecommunicator who is dispatching for police. The goal of the two hours is to see the job you are applying for in action and get to meet the staff you could potentially be working with.
  
  After the sit along, you are invited into the training room for a knowledge check of what you retained, listening to a couple of calls and following along in the computer system as well as a one-minute typing test. It is also a chance to ask any questions you may have to that point.
• Panel Interview: Meet our panel of experts, which includes operations and training to get to know you more.
• Statement of Personal History: This is our background phase. This is a thorough dive into your qualifications, where we verify criminal history, education, employment and other life events.
• Psychological Assessment: A comprehensive, evidence-based evaluation by a psychologist or their designee. You can learn more here:
• Medical Testing: This includes a vision, hearing and drug screening.

• Sit Alongs: offered:
  February 3-4, February 11-12, February 26-27.
• Panel Interviews: offered:
  February 20, March 3.
• Hire Date: will be in April 2026.

The majority of recruits that are hired have no experience with emergency communications. To help you be successful in this role, we provide a comprehensive paid training program before you work on your own.

Our full-time paid training includes:

• Classroom learning with hands‑on computer training.
• Simulation exercises, study and practice time.
• County Tour.
• Online classes completed at the center.
• Assigned experienced coaches to guide you while taking live calls and dispatching responders.
• Daily performance feedback to track your progress.

The first four to six weeks are classroom based and either 8‑ or 10‑hour shifts. Once you…