Public Safety Dispatcher

THE OPPORTUNITY
The San Gabriel Police Department is recruiting for Public Safety Dispatcher.   Public Safety Dispatcher is an important part of the City’s public safety response system.   This position provides an exceptional opportunity for the ideal candidate to develop a career in public safety with our historic “City with a Mission.”  A career with the City of San Gabriel offers excellent pay and benefits, outstanding training and career development opportunities, and a great location for living and working in Southern California.

The ideal candidate is enthusiastic, customer service oriented, compassionate, and committed to providing outstanding service to the community. The ideal candidate is also detail oriented, able to multi-task and work in a fast-paced environment, has outstanding judgment and interpersonal tact, and is an outstanding communicator. Most importantly, the ideal candidate is a consummate professional who understands and exemplifies the principles of public service and the core values of the San Gabriel Police Department.

Under general supervision of the assigned unit supervisor, the Police Dispatcher works 12-hour shifts for a total of 80 hours every two weeks. Incumbents of this position must be able to: maintain contact with all units on assignment; maintain status and location of field units; receive and enter 911 calls for service in the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system; communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing; understand and follow oral and written directions as provided; create and edit a variety of documents; receive incoming telephone, teletype, and radio calls; operate standard office equipment; gather, analyze, and evaluate facts to reach sound conclusions; act quickly and calmly in emergencies; correctly interpret and explain applicable laws, codes, and regulations; and perform other duties as required. Must be willing to work weekends, holidays, and graveyard shifts.
Public Safety DispatcherAny combination of experience and education may be considered.  A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Two years (2) of increasingly responsible clerical, administrative, record keeping, and/or customer service experience.
• Possession of a valid Class C California Driver’s License and ability to maintain a satisfactory driving record while employed with the city.
  
• Previous dispatching experience is highly desirable. 
  
• Experience working in local government is desirable.
  

Candidates for this position must possess and/or meet the following:

• Must be able to attain a POST Dispatcher Certificate within one year of appointment. 
• Certification from an accredited business school, adult school, or employment agency verifying a minimum typing speed of 40 WPM. 

Application Filing Period	September 28, 2026 - November 1, 2026
Written Exam	Week of November 9 or November 16, 2026
Qualifying Panel Interview Exam	Week of November 30, 2026
Selection Interviews	Week of December 7, 2026
Pre-Employment Process	Approximately 6-8 weeks
Target Start Date	January 25, 2027

1. Application Screening:  All submitted applications will be screened for minimum qualifications.
2. Written Exam:  For some positions, a written exam may be administered to help assess applicants for position competency and requirements.  Those meeting the minimum qualifications for the position in Step 1 will be invited to a written examination.  Typically, the minimum qualifying score on the written exam is 70%.  This score may be adjusted depending on the number of examinees, with percentile rankings, average scores and the number of slots available for the oral appraisal interview being used as the basis for adjusting the passing score.
3. Oral Appraisal Interview: Those passing Steps 1 and 2 will be invited to the oral appraisal interview.  The oral appraisal interview is an assessment of the candidate’s experience and preparation for the position by an impartial panel of subject matter experts.  Scores from the oral appraisal interview are typically weighted 100% towards the Eligibility List for the position.  Candidates must attain a minimum score of 70% on the oral panel interview to qualify for the Eligibility List.
4. Practical Exam:  For some recruitments, a practical exam may be administered. The practical exam is a supplemental examination/evaluation tool that is typically not scored or used for qualifying purposes.
5. Eligibility List:  Those attaining a qualifying score on the examination will be placed on the Eligibility List for this position. Candidates on the Eligibility List are deemed qualified for the position and may be called at any time to participate in a selection interview with the hiring department to fill a vacancy in this position.  For more information on Eligibility List requirements, please see Rule VIII of the City’s Civil Services Rules.
6. Selection Interview: Candidates on the Eligibility List may be called at any time to participate in a selection interview with the Department to fill an immediate and/or anticipated vacancy in the position classification.  A selection interview does not guarantee an offer of employment and the Department is not obligated to hire any candidate invited to a selection interview.
7. Pre-Employment Process:  Upon a conditional offer of employment, which requires the successful completion of a selection interview and recommendation to hire from the Department, candidates shall be required to satisfactorily complete the pre-employment process.  The pre-employment process consists of (1) supplemental application, (2) medical examination, (3) fingerprint background check, (4) work experience and education verification, (5) professional reference check, and (6) comprehensive background check (e.g., POST Background).  Some position classifications may also require drug screening as part of the pre-employment process. Failure to successfully complete any part of the pre-employment process shall void any conditional offer of employment.