Public Safety Dispatcher Trainee​/Dispatcher

Overview

The Colusa County Sheriff's Office is looking for a Dispatcher/Dispatcher Trainee to join our team and serve the community. You will perform dispatching duties for emergency and non-emergency calls, dispatch units to service calls, and operate various communication equipment, including radio, telephone, and computer systems. You will also perform general support duties related to dispatch activities, such as jail detention duties, record-keeping, typing, and filing.

To learn more about this position, please click on the job description HERE.

The Sheriff’s Office is seeking a Dispatcher/Dispatcher Trainee who can think critically and retain information in a high-stress environment. The ideal Dispatcher/Dispatcher Trainee displays a high level of integrity and trustworthiness, has exceptional communication skills, and the ability to multitask.

The following is a tentative schedule of events that will occur as part of the selection process:

• Applications will be accepted until February 8, 2026.
• Post Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test tentatively held on March 4, 2026.
• Oral Interviews tentatively scheduled for March 19, 2025.
• Background Investigation and Psychological Exam
• Medical Exam

• A beautiful, safe community in which to work and serve.
• A caring, empathetic, and fun work family that you will be welcomed into.
• Colusa is a safe community. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that your work contributes to keeping it that way.
• Competitive salary commensurate with education & experience
• A LIFETIME PAYCHECK (3% @ 60 for Classic Members and 2% @ 62 for New Members) – As long as you work for 5 years and vest in the CalPERS system, you will receive a retirement paycheck for the rest of your life.
• Amazing health care BENEFITS at NO COST to you – Unless you choose a premium health care plan.
• Authentically kind and engaged leadership who truly enjoy developing staff.
• 457 Deferred Compensation.
• PAID vacation, PAID holidays, and PAID leave if you get sick.
• Vacation Parity – Previous service with a public agency counts towards vacation accrual at Colusa County. To learn more about vacation parity, please see our benefit summary.

If you are ready to make a difference in our community, don't miss this great opportunity and APPLY today!

Dispatcher Trainee: Receives direct supervision from qualified dispatch and supervisory personnel, and general supervision from managerial staff. As knowledge, skills and abilities increase, trainees are expected to work with more independence, under general supervision.

Dispatcher: Receives general supervision from supervisory and managerial staff.

Experience and training provide the required knowledge and abilities. A typical path to obtain them includes:

Experience:

• Dispatcher Trainee: Some clerical experience.
• Dispatcher: One year of responsible clerical experience preferably including frequent public contact.

Training:

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade.

License/Certificate or Other Requirement

• Dispatcher Trainee: Pass the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery within 12 months of date of hire.
• Dispatcher: Completion of a POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery with a passing T-score.

Salary (Monthly ranges based on a 40-hour workweek):

• Dispatcher Trainee: $3,628 - $5,957
• Dispatcher: $4,317 - $7,084

Notes on salary and merit steps: The salary range above consists of 15 steps. Steps 1-6 are annual merit steps with approximately 5% difference between each step, based on successful performance. Steps 7-15 include additional merit steps with varying increases. The final salary offered will depend on the applicant’s experience and qualifications, ranging from steps 1 to 15.