Dispatcher

Position Overview

This role acts as a key communications point connecting the public with emergency and public safety response teams in the community.

Primary Duties

The role places strong emphasis on professionalism, teamwork, respect, and staying effective under pressure. Core work includes:

• Taking requests for police, sheriff, fire, and ambulance assistance through E911, TDD, phone calls, police radio, and in-person walk-ins.
• Collecting details about each incident, including its nature, location, credibility, severity, and any relevant factors such as weapons, suspect descriptions, and travel direction.
• Sending the right emergency resources promptly and accurately.
• Deciding when multiple units should be dispatched at the start and when additional support is needed.
• Prioritizing incoming calls and determining the order of response.
• Keeping field personnel updated on hazards or changing conditions during active incidents.
• Maintaining accurate unit tracking and logging every status update in Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), including close monitoring of hot calls and traffic stops.
• Creating complete incident records in CAD to ensure proper documentation and reporting.
• Responding to service requests and routing callers to the correct agency when needed.
• Handling National Crime Information Center/National Law Enforcement Telecommunications Service (NCIC/NLETS) tasks in line with required policies and procedures.
• Monitoring and maintaining communications equipment, computers, and radios.
• Contacting outside agencies when necessary, such as towing services, the police jury, the Department of Transportation and Development, and utility providers.
• Dispatching local fire departments and keeping their status updated in CAD.
• Completing Brady Bill-related tasks, housing authority requests, sheriff’s office pre-employment checks, and bar card applications while maintaining required paperwork.
• Operating and overseeing electric gates and elevators to control access to the Correctional Center and Communications Center.
• Performing any other assigned duties, including tasks directed by the Sheriff or the Sheriff’s designee.

Qualifications

Applicants should be able to carry out all essential duties successfully, with reasonable accommodation available where appropriate.

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or GED.
• At least 5 years of communication experience.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to read and understand reports and manuals.
• Comfortable presenting information clearly and answering questions from employees, command staff, and the public, both in person and by phone.
• Basic math understanding.
• Strong judgment in situations that require tact, diplomacy, fairness, firmness, and sound decision-making.
• Ability to use logical or scientific reasoning to solve practical and intellectual problems.

License Requirement

A current and valid Louisiana driver’s license is required.

Work Schedule

This position follows alternating 12-hour shifts. Flexible availability is required, and the employee may need to respond to call-outs at any hour of the day.

Employment Terms

Employment is at-will and has no fixed duration. Either the employee or the Sheriff may end the employment relationship at any time, for any reason, with or without cause. Job duties, title, compensation, benefits, and personnel policies may change over time without affecting the at-will status.

Probationary Period

All employees are subject to a one-year probationary period. A performance review is conducted after six months.

Additional Note

This summary is intended to describe the general scope and level of the role. It does not list every possible duty, and the position may be assigned additional responsibilities as needed.