What are the responsibilities and job description for the Communication Technician (911 Dispatcher) position at Portage County, WI?
Portage County currently has a rewarding opportunity as a Communication Technician within the Sheriff's Office. Our mission: As Portage County Communication Technicians, we are comprised of people dedicated to preserving the value of life of all citizens, our diverse community, their property, and environment; providing the best possible emergency and non-emergency communications in a caring, professional manner.
2026 pay range starts at $25.09 / hr
Job Duties Include:
The Communication Center answers 10 emergent 911 phone lines, 9 non-emergent phone lines, monitors over 20 radio channels, pages Fire, EMS, Medical Examiner, sets off weather sirens and creates and sends community alert emergent and non-emergent notifications. Dispatch services are provided for Portage County Sheriff's Office, Stevens Point and Plover Police Departments as well as 33 EMS and Fire Agencies and many other agencies in Portage County. Additional duties include; researching information for Deputies, Officers and Detectives for all three law enforcement agencies, along with UWSP Police, entering warrants for five law enforcement agencies, entering missing persons, stolen vehicles or properties for four law enforcement agencies, entering restraining orders.
Qualified candidates must have:
-High school diploma or equivalent required
-Must be 18 years old and a US Citizen
-No felony convictions unless pardoned by the Governor
One or more of the following preferred:
-Six months or more experience in emergency dispatch or related law enforcement
-One year work experience or four years of volunteer fire, ambulance, rescue experience
-Six months or more experience in customer service and/or in a call center environment
-Public Safety Communications Dispatch diploma from an accredited Technical school
-One year military communications experience that primarily involved direct voice broadcasting to send and receive messages associated with military police and emergency equipment
-Information technology experience
Critical skills to have to be successful in positions include:
-Ability to multi-task and multi-listen, good active listening skills is a must
-Quick decision making skills and ability to prioritize emergency situations
-Computer skills with the ability to use multiple screens
-Good customer service skills and the ability to work as a team
-Ability to handle high stress situations; sometimes for hours at a time during high call volume situations
-Ability to visualize the information given and to think outside the box
-Must be detailed oriented
Portage County offers a GREAT benefit package, which includes the following;
- Vacation - available on day one!
- Health insurance- your choice of two health plans- (Health Savings Account associated with a High Deductible Health Plan with a County contribution or a PPO Co-pay plan)
- Wellness incentive plan offered with health insurance enrollment! Earn up to $600 per year!
- Flexible spending account
- Dental insurance
- State of Wisconsin Retirement Plan - County contribution of 7.2%!
- Paid holidays
- Paid sick leave
- Life insurance- premium paid by the County (must work a minimum of 30 hrs/wk)
- Long term disability insurance- premium paid by the County (must work a minimum of 30 hrs/wk)
- EAP (Employee Assistance Plan) - paid by the County
- 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan
This will be a reoccurring list.
Portage County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Salary : $600