Job Description

Salary: $95,115.00 - $114,478.00 Annually Location : Walnut Creek, CA Job Type: Regular Job Number: 25-27 Department: Police Division: PD Dispatch Opening Date: 06/19/2025 Closing Date: Continuous Bargaining Unit: 700 Position Description The City of Walnut Creek is seeking one full-time Police Dispatcher to join the Police Department's Communications Division. This is not an entry-level position; only Police Dispatchers with experience are eligible to apply. Salary Effective June 22, 2025, the annual salary range for a Police Dispatcher is $95,115 - $114,478 . Placement in the salary range will depend on qualifications. Lateral candidates are eligible to accrue General Leave (vacation and sick leave) based on prior experience and receive a bank of General Leave hours at time of hire, subject to the discretion of the Chief of Police. Closing Date This recruitment is ongoing and may close without notice when a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. What's great about this opportunity: Join a progressive and state-of-the-art department that values work-life balance, wellness, and career development; Enjoy a relaxed dress code, meal facilities, dispatch treadmill, on site gym, and a strong working relationship with our officers. About the City Spanning 19.5 square miles, the community's sprawling landscapes, warm weather, diverse dining options, and thriving shopping district make Walnut Creek a suburban oasis with an urban flair. With a rare blend of 2,800 acres of open space, a vibrant downtown, a business park, premier healthcare facilities and a performing arts center, Walnut Creek offers something for everyone! The City of Walnut Creek is committed to values of respect, integrity, excellence, teamwork, and creativity. CARE, the City's robust award-winning employee engagement initiative, focuses on three key areas: providing career development opportunities; promoting connection among employees; and supporting employee health and wellness. About the Department and Division The Police Department team is committed to integrity, professionalism, and respect while maintaining focus on continually learning and adapting. As highly dedicated and trained employees, we are committed to protecting and serving the community through professional conduct and proactive enforcement of the law. We strive for superior customer service, upholding the trust of this community and organization one interaction at a time. Representative Duties Under general supervision, Dispatchers at the City of Walnut Creek work in the Communications Center receiving emergency calls and inquiries from the public, and dispatching police officers via the radio to calls for service. Walnut Creek Dispatchers dispatch for police only and have the opportunity for collateral assignments such as Tactical Dispatch, Social Media Coordinator, Communications Training Officer, Peer Support Team Member, and Cadet Advisor. They deal effectively, professionally, and courteously with all contacts-including police, emergency and service organizations, outside agencies, other City staff, and the public-and exercise tact and discretion at all times. They handle multiple work requests under pressure with frequent interruption, use sound judgment, and calm distressed community members during emergency situations in order to gather sufficient information to act appropriately and to communicate effectively orally and in writing. Dispatchers operate multiple automated systems including CAD, radio system, phones, and multiple online jurisdictional databases and use various telecommunications equipment such as telephone, radio, and computer terminal. Dispatchers are assigned to shift work; the work group is staffed 24x7, 365 days a year. Shift assignments are generally made in order of seniority although Dispatchers can be assigned shifts as needed to meet staffing requirements. Dispatchers typically work a 3/12 schedule with an eight-hour make-up day every other week and every other Sunday off. Dispatchers working the swing shift receive an additional 2.5% pay differential, and those working the graveyard (overnight) shift receive a 5% pay differential. Qualifications Guidelines Any equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. Education Graduation from high school, supplemented by coursework in communications, secretarial duties, public safety, or a related field. Lateral Candidate Experience Requirements One year of full-time, or its equivalent, experience within the last seven years performing law enforcement dispatch duties at a California law enforcement agency or at least two years of experience within the past two years at an out of state law enforcement agency; AND Experience operating a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system; AND A passing score on the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery. The POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery results must be uploaded and attached to the application. Important: The third requirement may be waived if the candidate's application shows they passed probation as a Dispatcher at a law enforcement agency. Those candidates eligible to waive the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery must submit the Public Safety Dispatcher's Basic Course documentation. Special Requirements: Possession of, or ability to obtain, prior to employment, a Class C Driver's License and a good driving record. Computer Proficiency: Must have the ability to type at the corrected minimum rate of 45 words per minute Supplemental Information Applications are accepted on a continuous basis. To be considered for this opportunity, please visit All applicants will be notified by email as to whether or not they are invited to participate further in the selection process. Applications must comply with the Lateral Candidate Experience Requirements listed above in order to advance forward. Applications demonstrating the most desirable qualifications will be invited to continue in the selection process, which will include an oral interview. Other test elements determined to be appropriate by the City may also be included. Applicants considered for appointment to this position will be subject to a thorough Police Department background investigation including a California Department of Justice and FBI fingerprinting, a credit check, a pre-placement medical exam including a drug screen, and a psychological evaluation. The City reserves the right to request a candidate to submit to a polygraph exam. If you have a disability as defined by state and federal law that could impact your participation at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at (925) 943-5815 or to request a reasonable accommodation. Please provide the Human Resources Department with advance notice and every attempt will be made to consider your request. As required by law, all public employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers. As such, all City of Walnut Creek employees may be called upon to assist in the event of fire, flood, earthquake, or other natural or man-made disasters. Please see the class specification here for a complete description of this classification's representative duties; knowledge, skills and abilities; qualifications; working conditions; physical requirements; and for other details about this position. The City of Walnut Creek provides a generous benefit package to employees in the Civilian Police Unit. A summary of key benefits is listed below. More information can be found on the benefit page of the City's website and in the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Walnut Creek and the Civilian Police Unit. Health Benefits - Choice of Kaiser or Blue Shield HMO or HDHP health insurance plans with generous City contribution. Dental and Vision Plans - Family coverage fully paid by the City. Life Insurance and Long Term Disability - Individual coverage fully paid by the City. Retirement Program - CalPERS 2% at 60 retirement plan OR for new employees hired after 1/1/2013 the benefit formula applicable under AB340 California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA). Employee contribution of 7%*. * or contributions required under AB340 California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) 401(a) Money Purchase Plan with annual City contribution of $850. Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation and Retirement Health Savings plans are available. The City participates in the Medicare Program but does not participate in Social Security or the State Disability program. Paid Leave and Holidays - General Leave accrual starts at 20 days per year and progresses to 30 days per year at twenty-five years of service. There are twelve paid holidays per year and one floating DEIB holiday per year. Dependent Care and Medical Spending Accounts - Available to eligible employees on a voluntary basis. Additional Benefits - Tuition Reimbursement Program, Employee Assistance Plan, Wellness Program, Commute Alternative Program and others. 01 Have you completed one year of full-time experience, or its equivalent, within the last seven years performing law enforcement dispatch duties at a California law enforcement agency? (For example: two years of half-time work would be considered equivalent.) Yes No 02 Have you completed two years of full-time experience, or its equivalent, within the past two years at a US law enforcement agency outside of California? (Note: If your answer to #1 and #2 are both "No", you are not eligible to apply for this position. If you answered yes to at least one of these questions, you may continue.) Yes No 03 Have you successfully completed probation as a Police Dispatcher with a California law enforcement agency? Yes No 04 Have you taken the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery? (If the answer is yes, you are required to attach a copy of your official score notice to this application. Do not submit your application without attaching.) Yes No 05 Have you successfully completed the POST Public Safety Basic Dispatcher Course? (If the answer is yes, you are required to attach the Public Safety Dispatcher's Basic Course documentation to this application. Do not submit your application without attaching.) Yes No 06 This position requires the ability to type at the corrected minimum rate of 45 words per minute. I understand that if I am invited to participate in an oral board interview, I will be required to submit a current typing certificate (dated within the past six months) before my interview. Yes No 07 This position requires a 'good driving record': no DUI convictions or license suspensions/revocations, and no more than three moving violations-all within the past five years. Do you meet this requirement? Yes No 08 Have you ever been convicted of any crime which resulted in imprisonment, probation, or the payment of a fine or forfeiture or bail of $50 or more, including traffic violations? A "Yes" answer does not automatically disqualify you. (NOTE: You do not need to answer "YES" or explain: 1) any conviction for which the record has been judicially ordered sealed, expunged, or statutorily eradicated; 2) any misdemeanor conviction for which probation has been successfully completed or otherwise discharged and the case has been judicially dismissed pursuant to Penal Code section 1203.4; or 3) misdemeanor convictions for marijuana-related offenses that are more than two years old.) Yes No 09 Your honesty and integrity will be closely evaluated throughout the background process. We require that you be totally honest and forthcoming in your responses. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Check 'Yes' below to confirm that all of the information provided on your application is true and accurate. Yes No 10 Why do you want to become a Police Dispatcher for the City of Walnut Creek? (Please limit your answer to two paragraphs). Required Question City of Walnut Creek, CA

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