PR Dispatcher
Minimum Qualifications:
- Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.
- Must be a citizen of the United States.
- Must not have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to or entered a plea of nolo contendere to any felony charge or to any violation of any federal or state laws or city ordinances relating to force, violence, theft, dishonesty, gambling, liquor or controlled substances.
- For those who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States, type of release/discharge must be “honorable”.
- High school graduate or equivalent;
- Must type at least 25 words per minute typing score on tests designated by Personnel;
- Must successfully pass a battery of psychological tests, a Structured Interview Board, reading test, and dispatch test;
- Must have effective written and interpersonal skills; geographical knowledge of the City of Memphis is preferred; or any combination of experience or training which enables one to perform the essential job functions.
Salary and Pay Scale
| Years of Service | Hourly | Bi-weekly | Monthly | Annually |
| 0-1 Years | $21.24 | $1,699.40 | $3,681.92 | $44,184.40 |
| 1-2 Years | $24.87 | $1,989.50 | $4,310.45 | $51,727.00 |
| 2-3 Years | $26.72 | $2,137.36 | $4,630.80 | $55,571.36 |
| 3+ Years | $29.11 | $2,328.95 | $5,045.90 | $60,552.70 |
The Hiring Process
Complete the online Application
-
- Click the “Apply Today” button on our Home page or click here.
- Search and select the job posting title “Police Radio Dispatcher-Continuous Posting”
- If you meet the minimum requirements and want to serve the Memphis Community Click “Apply for Job”
- Enter your email address and click “Go” (using a valid email address of which you check periodically)
- If you do not have an account, enter your first and last name after clicking “Go”, then click “Start Application”
- Click “I Accept” after reading the privacy agreement
- Enter your login credentials and click “Login”
- Complete application (Please remember your application is not complete until it has been electronically signed)
- Advance to review, then click “Submit”
Applicant will immediately receive a confirmation via email- please continue to monitor your email account, days later.
Applicant Review/Screening
Application will be reviewed by Public Safety Recruiter and if minimum qualifications are met, the applicant will be sent an email to self-schedule pre-employment assessment.
Pre-Employment Assessments
All applicants are required to bring and present a valid driver’s license to be admitted for testing
No late admittance will be allowed
Assessments include:
- Decision Making
- Keyboarding (25wpm)
- Data Entry-MT
- Data Entry-MT (Audio)
- Cross Referencing
- Memory Recall (Audio)
- Map Reading
- Spelling
- Reading Comprehension
- Call Summarization
- Sentence Clarity
Once the testing phase has ended, facilitator will compile a rank-order list in accordance with test scores. Those that meet the benchmarks set by Emergency Communications Bureau Leadership will be contacted to move forward in the hiring process.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit the following link for testing resources such as, Candidate Test Preparation Guides and Practice Tests for Keyboarding, Spelling, and more.
Contingent Job Offer
Contingent Job Offers are given with consideration of the applicant’s ability to successfully complete and pass the remaining screenings and assessments.
Background Investigation Screening
The following factors will be acquired and evaluated for employment consideration.
- Criminal
- Education
- Traffic
- Employment History
Any offenses /charges found during background investigation that were not disclosed on application could potentially be cause for removal from the recruitment process.
Panel Interview
Once you have successfully passed the background investigation screening, you will be invited to attend a panel interview. Panel Interviews are conducted at the Emergency Communications Bureau.
Interviews are scored by our interview panel and a rank-order list is compiled based on interview answers. Candidates that meet the benchmark set by ECB Leadership will be contacted to move forward in the hiring process.
Psychological Written Assessment
This is a mandatory assessment that is used as a basis for your Psychological Clinical Assessment. This assessment is conducted at the Memphis Police Training Academy.
Psychological Clinical Interview
This is a mandatory interview that is conducted by our team of Clinical Psychologists to ensure that you have the capacity to handle police related stressors. This component of the hiring process is largely based on the answers that you provided on your Psychological Written Assessment.
Medical Assessment
Medical Assessments are conducted at:
Concentra Medical
2381 Airways Blvd. | Bdg. A | Suite 102
Memphis, TNE | 38132
Medical Exams consists of:
- Hearing Test
- TB Skin Test
- Blood Pressure
- Drug Screening
- Vision Test
- Blood Work
Final Job Offer
Upon successful completion of all components (Pre–employment Assessments, Background Investigation, Panel Interview, Psychological Written Assessment, and the Medical Assessment), you will be presented with a final job offer to review and accept.
Apply/Contact a Recruiter
Are You Ready to Join the Best In Blue?
Police Radio Dispatcher FAQ
Q: What is the minimum age to apply?
A: Applicants must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.
Q: Do I have to take a typing test? If so, how many words per minute is required to pass the typing test?
A: Yes. Candidate will be required to take and pass a typing test demonstrating their ability to type a minimum of 35 words per minute.
Q: What is CritiCall?
A: Criticall is a computer-based assessment that tests for the skills required to perform the duties associated with the 911 dispatcher/call handler role. The test is divided into multiple sections, each assessing a different skill. Applicants take this test, after successfully passing the typing test.
Q: If I fail the typing test, can I retake it?
A: If you do not pass the typing test, you cannot retake the until the next recruitment cycle.
Q: How much do Police Radio Dispatchers make?
A: Starting pay for Police Radio Dispatchers is $43,318.08.
Q: How long is training for Police Radio Dispatcher?
A: Training for Dispatchers is seven (7) to ten (10) months long.
Q: How long is the hiring process for Police Radio Dispatchers?
A: The average hiring process can take four (4) to six (6) months.
The Memphis Police Department Training Academy is a Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) Accredited Public Safety Training Facility and is a VA certified training facility.
The City of Memphis, including the Memphis Police Department, does not discriminate based on race, color, or national origin in Federal or state sponsored programs, services and activities, pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d).
The Memphis Police Department is a equal opportunity employer.
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