Public Safety Dispatcher/Jailer

Salary : $76,730.50 - $93,266.40 Annually
Location : Police Department 215 W. Elm St. Lodi, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 6410.10.2026
Department: Police Department
Opening Date: 10/15/2026
Closing Date: 11/12/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Job Description

The City of Lodi Police Department is accepting applications for entry-level Dispatcher/Jailer. This position will, at times, require you to process and handle prisoners including, but not limited to: booking of arrested persons; performing searches; taking inventory of prisoner's property; fingerprinting; and administering breath tests where applicable; monitoring the activities of prisoners in City detention facilities; providing daily care of prisoners including feeding and medicating; maintaining and enforcing custodial facility regulations of the jail. If you are looking for an exciting career in a fast-paced 9-1-1 dispatch center, we invite you to apply for this opportunity.
The examination process will consist of a competitive evaluation of qualifications based on a review of the Application and the Supplemental Questionnaire; therefore, it is to your advantage to provide as much detailed and relevant work experience as possible, as a resume will not be accepted or reviewed in lieu of the application materials. Applicants must submit an online application at www.lodi.gov. No paper applications will be accepted.
EXAMINATION: Tentative Exam date: December 3, 2026 - only those applicants that meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to the POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery.
POST regulations do not allow testing more than one time in 30 calendar days, therefore, if you have taken the California POST Entry Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery with another agency within 30 calendar days prior to the scheduled test date you are unable to participate in our examination. However, you may submit a copy of your t-score (48.0 or higher) on issuing agency letterhead by the time of the written examination in lieu of taking the examination with the City of Lodi. If you are submitting a T-score, with a score of 48.0 or higher, issued within the past 12 months (December 3, 2025 - December 3, 2026), from another California law enforcement agency or academy in lieu f taking the written examination with the City of Lodi, you must submit it by 5:00 p.m., December 3, 2026.
Scores may be submitted as follows:

* email to hrdept@lodi.gov

* fax to (209) 333-6816

* mail delivery to:

City of Lodi

Human Resources

PO Box 3006

Lodi, CA 95241
Score must be received NO LATER THAN 5:00 PM ON December 3, 2026.

T-scores dated outside the window period will not be accepted.
DEFINITION

Under general direction, receives 9-1-1 police, fire and medical emergency calls, answers non-emergency calls for public safety and other City departments using independent judgment in often sensitive situations; performs a variety of non-sworn office duties in support of law enforcement activities; assumes responsibility for the processing and handling of prisoners.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED AND RECEIVED

Receives general direction from the Dispatch Supervisor and other assigned staff. May also receive direction from the Lead Dispatcher/Jailer.

Examples of Duties
Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
Under general direction, receives 9-1-1 police, fire and medical emergency calls, answers non-emergency calls for public safety and other City departments using independent judgment in often sensitive situations; performs a variety of non-sworn office duties in support of law enforcement activities.
Answers emergency and non-emergency telephones and conducts interviews with callers to determine the nature of call, priority and appropriate response and/or action and dispatches police, fire or other emergency units as necessary and in accordance with established guidelines.
Maintains contact with all units on assignment; maintains status and location of police field units; coordinates emergency calls and relays information and assistance requests involving other public safety agencies.
Enters, updates and retrieves information from computer networks relating to wanted persons, stolen property, vehicle registration and other information; answers all incoming phone calls; screen calls and routes as appropriate; waits on public.
Processes and handles prisoners including, but not limited to: the booking of arrested persons; performing searches; taking inventory of prisoner's property; fingerprinting; and administering breath tests where applicable; monitors the activities of prisoners in City detention facilities; provides daily care of prisoners including feeding and medicating; maintains and enforces custodial facility regulations of the jail.
Provide a variety of staff and administrative assistance related to the dispatch center; work with supervisory and management staff to resolve issues related to dispatch; perform special projects as assigned including research and scheduling training opportunities and developing dispatch related policies and procedures.
Perform other duties related to the operation of the department and the City including additional duties that enable the department and City to meet the diverse needs of its community.

Typical Qualifications
Knowledge of:

Operational characteristics of modern public safety telecommunications equipment including computer aided dispatch systems and multi-channel radio systems; operation of communication equipment, computers, and peripheral equipment including related software; geographic features and boundaries.
English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation; computerized data entry and retrieval systems used in dispatch communication and operations.
Generally accepted office practices and procedures and of standard office equipment including personal computers.
First Aid and CPR procedures.
Ability to:

Under general direction, receives 9-1-1 police, fire and medical emergency calls, answers non-emergency calls for public safety and other City departments using independent judgment in often sensitive situations; performs a variety of non-sworn office duties in support of law enforcement activities.
Learn City dispatch codes, policies and procedures; memorize codes, names, locations and other detailed information; attend to multiple activities and sources of input simultaneously during stressful situations; work under pressure to obtain complete and accurate information from individuals who during emergency situations may be emotionally distraught, angry or difficult to understand; remain calm, analyze and evaluate emergency situations as required to prioritize calls and to anticipate/determine the needs of responding personnel
Admit and supervise prisoners including physically escort/direct or restrain and control combative prisoners in the jail by the use of restraint techniques and handcuffing procedures.
Effectively operate the computer-aided dispatch system, display terminals, radio dispatching consoles, and associated equipment; read and interpret street maps;
Type at a speed necessary for adequate job performance; compile and maintain complex and extensive records and files.
Work various shifts as assigned. (New Hires are required to work the graveyard shift)
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted during the course of work.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination equivalent to experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge's and abilities would be qualifying. A typical combination is:
Education:

Equivalent to the completion of high school.
Experience:

One year of public safety dispatching experience or two years of general clerical experience involving public contact with emphasis on customer service.
Environment: Work is performed in an office and emergency services dispatch center setting with extensive public contact; incumbents are required to work evening, night, weekend, and holiday shifts; incumbents may be called back or held over to maintain staffing levels.
Physical: Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office and emergency dispatch center setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.
Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction.
Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.
*FLSA Status: NON-EXEMPT

Supplemental Information
Interested applicants must submit an online application at www.lodi.gov. No paper applications will be accepted. For technical difficulties with your online application, please call the Neogov helpline at 855-524-5627.
Persons with hearing impairment, please call the California Relay Service 7-1-1.
Evaluation of Qualifications: Application materials and resumes will be screened to determine if applicants are considered to be among the most qualified as outlined on the job announcement. Only applicants who are among the most qualified will be invited to participate in the testing process. Resumes may not be substituted for a completed application.