Public Safety Dispatcher I

Salary : $79,803.50 - $97,001.39 Annually
Location : Vacaville, CA
Job Type: FULL-TIME
Job Number: 02201
Department: Police Department
Opening Date: 07/09/2025
Closing Date: Continuous

ABOUT OUR JOB
The City of Vacaville - A beautiful place to live, a great place to work!

With more than 600 employees, the City of Vacaville values work-life balance and offers flexible/hybrid work schedules, every other Friday off, employee social and wellness activities, casual dress days, competitive pay and generous benefits and retirement package.

Contribute to our vibrant community and join our team!

Please see our Police Department recruitment for more information!

The City of Vacaville is seeking highly motivated and dependable individuals who thrive in fast-paced environments to join our Public Safety Communications Team as a Public Safety Dispatcher I. This recruitment will establish an eligibility list to fill vacancies that may arise within the next 12 months.

The Vacaville Police Department is committed to delivering the highest level of law enforcement services to the community. The Communications Center is staffed by a team consisting of one Communications Manager, four Communications Supervisors and 19 Public Safety Dispatchers. The Vacaville Police Department takes pride in its dedication to public safety and service, guided by core values of integrity, ethics and respect for individual dignity.

Public Safety Dispatcher I Salary Range: $79,803.50 - $97,001.39/annually
2% COLA scheduled for 11/01/2026

Working for the City of Vacaville comes with an excellent benefits package, including:

• Medical Insurance at affordable rates - City covers up to 85% of Kaiser premium, other plans are also available
• Vision and Dental Insurance monthly premiums covered 100% by the City
• Holiday Pay at 5.38% of base salary
• Tuition reimbursement up to a maximum of $2,200 per fiscal year
• California Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) - Intermediate Certificate Pay - $3,000 per year
• California Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) - Advanced Certificate Pay - $6,000 per year
• California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) plan enrollment and Retiree Health Savings account

See our generous page for more detailed information.
For a complete job description, visit our website at www.cityofvacaville.gov
ABOUT YOU

The Ideal Public Safety Dispatcher Candidate:
The ideal candidate will possess strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with all City departments, employees at all levels and other law enforcement agencies. They will also demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills.
Typical duties and responsibilities of a City of Vacaville Public Safety Dispatcher include:

• Receiving and responding to both routine and emergency calls
• Evaluating requests to determine priority level and type of response required
• Determining the location and nature of emergency and non-emergency calls for service
• Referring callers to the appropriate agency or resource
• Providing general information to the public
• Operating a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system and law enforcement records system and conducting inquiries using various criminal justice databases
• Dispatching and coordinating responses for multiple units simultaneously
• Operating a multi-channel radio console supporting Police, Fire and other emergency services

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE - Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Experience: One year of increasingly responsible experience in a work environment with frequent interruptions, which includes a high degree of customer service. Some clerical or administrative experience in a fast-paced environment that involves the use of phones and a computer while working with the public is desirable. Some work experience in a public safety agency is also desirable.

License or Certificate:
A POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery (POST Dispatcher Test)T-score of 50 or above is highly desirable.

• Attach a copy of a valid T-SCORE of 50 or above from a POST Entry-Level Dispatcher Selection Test Battery (POST Dispatcher Test) taken within the past 12 months, if you possess one. Applicants may use a T-score from a POST Dispatcher Test administered by another agency. If you do not possess a valid T-score, applicants may contact The Academy, South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Center (), or other local law enforcement agencies and/or basic training academies to determine if they are administering the POST Dispatcher Test. Additional information about the test may be obtained by visiting the Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) website at

Successful completion of the California Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Public Safety Dispatchers Basic Course and the Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) certificate program is required within 12 months of hire.

Positions in the classifications of Public Safety Dispatcher I/II are expected to work irregular hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

All applications will be reviewed and screened. Only the most qualified candidates who have submitted the required documents will be invited to continue in the examination process.
ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE
This recruitment is currently open and continuous, but may close without further notice at any time. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply and submit applicable documents as soon as possible.

A completed City of Vacaville application, supplemental questionnaire, and other required documents must be received by Human Resources at 650 Merchant Street, Vacaville, CA 95688 by the closing of this recruitment.
Applicants are encouraged to apply online at www.cityofvacaville.gov. Application packets may also be requested in person at the Human Resources Department or by calling (707) 449-5101. Cover letters and resumes are encouraged as a supplement but cannot be accepted in lieu of a completed application packet.
IMPORTANT: Contact with applicants will primarily occur via email. Please ensure that your application indicates a valid email address that you check regularly.

The City of Vacaville is a proud organization of sophisticated, compassionate and hard-working individuals committed to honesty and integrity. Applicants considered for appointment will be required to undergo several evaluations including, but not limited to, a thorough background investigation (including a CVSA exam), a comprehensive medical exam and a psychological exam.

For ADA information and other Frequently Asked Questions, please click .
The City of Vacaville is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
Vacaville Police Officers Association (VPOA)
The City of Vacaville values the importance of our first responders and public safety staff. Employees enjoy a collaborative and team oriented working environment, 4/10s alternative work schedules, employee social and wellness activities through our CoV LIFE program, competitive pay and a generous benefits and retirement package. To learn more about our benefits for Full-Time positions, please review our
Part-time positions are paid an hourly rate and can work up to a maximum of 129 hours per month. Part-time positions are at-will, are not eligible for health or retirement benefits (including CalPERS membership), and do not accrue leave time with the exception of state mandated sick leave (40 hours per year).

Part-time positions are not covered by Social Security and are not eligible for the City of Vacaville's retirement plan through CalPERS and are therefore required to make 7.5% pre-tax contributions into a qualified plan under the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA). For the City of Vacaville, the plan is a Section 457 Deferred Compensation Plan through Nationwide Retirement Systems, Inc.
01

Do you have a High School Diploma or GED?

• Yes
• No

02

Do you have one year of increasingly responsible experience in a work environment with frequent interruptions, which includes a high degree of customer service?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have some clerical or administrative experience in a fast-paced environment that involves the use of phones and a computer while working with the public?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have a POST Dispatcher Test T-Score of 50 or above? If yes, you MUST attach a copy to your application.

• Yes
• No

05

Are you available to work all shifts (day, swing and graveyard)?

• Yes
• No

06

Are you available to work on holidays?

• Yes
• No

07

Are you available to work 12-hour shifts?

• Yes
• No

08

Spanish speaking skills are highly desirable for this position, but not required. Do you speak Spanish?

• Yes
• No

Required Question