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Public Safety Dispatcher Selection Standards

Public safety dispatchers are full time or part-time, non-sworn employees who, along with other tasks, receive emergency calls for law enforcement service and/or dispatch law enforcement personnel. The role of the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) is to establish minimum selection standards for public safety dispatchers employed by agencies participating in the POST public safety dispatcher program. These dispatchers are required to meet certain selection standards as defined in Commission Regulation 1018 (pdf). Each public safety dispatcher must, at a minimum, pass the following POST selection standards.

Written Examination – Verbal, Reasoning, Memory, and Perceptual Abilities Assessment

Per Commission Regulation 1018(c)(4) (pdf), public safety dispatcher applicants must be assessed for verbal, reasoning, memory, and perceptual abilities. These abilities must be evaluated prior to hire to assure the presence of ability levels commensurate with the performance of dispatcher duties, as measured by the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery (written exam) or alternative job-related tests of these abilities. Details of the written exam along with sample questions are included in the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery: Examinee Guide 1996 (pdf), which is available for applicant and agency use and dissemination. Agencies will find test development, administration and validation information in the POST Entry-level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery: User’s Manual 1996 (pdf).

Interview

Commission Regulation 1018(c)(3) (pdf) stipulates that “oral communication skills shall be evaluated before hire to assure the presence of skill levels commensurate with the performance of dispatcher duties.” Public safety dispatchers will be subject to an interview to assess oral communication skills.

Background Investigation

Per Commission Regulation 1018(c) (pdf), a thorough background investigation is required of all public safety dispatchers before being hired to verify that the applicant has no past behaviors indicative of unsuitability to perform public safety dispatching duties. Commission Procedure C-1 (doc) outlines the procedures for the background investigation, which must include a check of motor vehicle records and a search of local, state, and federal fingerprint files to determine any criminal record.

To assist agencies with the background investigation process, POST has a Background Investigation Manual, which includes the Personal History Statement – Public Safety Dispatcher (doc) form that applicants will need to complete at the onset of the investigation. The manual also includes the ten background dimensions that are to be assessed in the background investigation.

Medical Examination

Commission Regulation 1018(c)(2) (pdf) requires that all public safety dispatchers undergo a medical examination prior to hire. The goal of the medical examination is to determine whether the applicant has any medical condition which would preclude the safe and efficient performance of dispatcher duties.

Additional Departmental Standards

The selection standards described above are POST-required minimum selection standards. Per Penal Code Section 13510(d), local agencies/departments may set standards that exceed these minimum selection standards. Public safety dispatcher applicants may be subjected to additional evaluations and/or assessments required by individual law enforcement agencies. Many law enforcement agencies conduct a thorough psychological screening of public safety dispatcher applicants before they are hired. To assist agencies in conducting these examinations POST has published an informational report: POST Public Safety Dispatcher Psychological Assessment Resource Document (1997) (pdf). Additional department-specific selection requirements may include drug screening, a polygraph examination or voice stress analysis.

Questions

For more information on POST’s public safety dispatcher selection standards, contact the Standards and Evaluation Bureau at seb@post.ca.gov or 916.227.4820.