Dispatcher – Join the OCSO today!

Dispatch Specialist

The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center

Dispatchers are essential to emergency services, ensuring the accurate and timely response of personnel. Our dispatchers receive and process calls for police, fire, ambulance, 9-1-1 and other emergency services. Our team is comprised of a Chief, two QA supervisors, five sergeants, five dispatch shift leaders, 58 dispatch specialists, two warrants clerks and an office assistant.

Skills a Dispatcher Should Have...

A dispatcher should have excellent communication and problem-solving skills. They should be able to multitask and prioritize effectively, stay calm in times of stress, be able to make quick decisions, and adjust rapidly to changing circumstances. Additionally, They should possess strong computer and navigation skills and have understanding of basic laws and regulations governing their operation.

About the Job

Our Dispatch center is open 24/7/365. Dispatchers work 8 hour shifts.

The Shifts Dispatchers Work Are:

Days 0630 - 1430 (6:30am to 2:30pm)

Afternoons 1430 - 2230 (2:30pm to 10:30pm)

Midnights 2230 - 0630 (10:30pm to 6:30am)

Leave days can vary. Shift assignments include the possibility of working weekends.
Leave days and shift preferential are awarded by seniority yearly.
Due to the nature of the job, dispatchers may be forced to stay after shift, up to 8 more hours.

About the Training

We train our own dispatchers in an in-house, paid, 6-week classroom academy and 16 weeks of on-the-job training. Once completed, every dispatcher is EFD, EPD and EMD trained through IAED-Priority Dispatch.

How To Apply

The minimum qualifications are as follows:

Have graduated from high school or have a certificate of successful completion of the General Educational Development Test; AND

Have not been convicted of a violation of criminal law. (Criminal law generally includes all offenses except traffic law, conservation law and liquor law. Generally, conviction for a violation of criminal law is automatically disqualifying.)

Must possess normal or corrected hearing in each ear and normal color vision.

Plus, you must have experience or certifications in ONE of the following:

Have had six (6) months full-time work experience in a 911 call center, responding to emergency situations (such as fire, ambulance, law enforcement, or hospital), or any military experience OR

Have had one (1) year full-time work experience in in a high-volume customer-facing hospitality service industry (such as hotel desk, waitstaff, and food service, etc.) OR

Have completed one (1) year of college from an accredited college or university in any major or possess two current certifications in Emergency Medical Dispatch, Emergency Fire Dispatch or Emergency Police Dispatch.