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Ohio State Highway Patrol Dispatcher

 

 

Job Duties

• Receives and transmits radio communications
• Dispatches patrol officers and operates equipment for the purpose of law enforcement, traffic control, accident investigation, motorist assistance and security on behalf of the Ohio Department of Public Safety and other state agencies
• Operates the Law Enforcement Automated Data System (LEADS) terminal which will receive and transmit messages
• Interprets messages received and routes the information to the appropriate person
• Maintain radio log, prepares and types reports, maintains proper files for correspondences and reports
• Receives and records all telephone calls
• Provides information and/or directions to the general public
• Greets and assists visitors to the patrol facility
• Provides liaison services to the area communities and other public agencies. Performs other related duties as required
• Performs other related duties as required

Career Opportunities

• CAD Specialist
• Dispatcher Supervisor
• CAD Administrator
• Dispatcher Manager

 

Unusual Working Conditions

• Works weekends and holidays with rotating days off
• Individual could be confined to work area and sitting for long periods of time at a personal computer terminal
• Dispatch area could have constant noise from telephone ringing and radio traffic
• Individual could be exposed to stressful working conditions involving performance of multiple, critical tasks simultaneously to ensure the safety and welfare of highway patrol units and the general public

 

To be considered for a position as a Highway Patrol Dispatcher, the applicant must successfully complete the following:

• Application found at careers.ohio.gov
• CritiCall testing
• Personal Interview
• Polygraph Examination
• Background Investigation
• Drug Screen
• Vision and Hearing Test

 

District Map

OSP Hub – Dispatch Management

Dispatcher Supervisors

Hiring – Once an applicant has successfully passed the Criticall test, they are placed in a pool for the dispatch center locations they listed on their application. Once an opening occurs at a facility, applications are reviewed and selections are made for interviews.

Training – Training for new dispatchers is 60 days with an additional 5 days if the dispatcher is hired as a traveler. The dispatcher is required to work 10 days on each of the three shifts and the remaining 30 days are scheduled by the dispatcher supervisor and trainer. The dispatcher is also required to attend Dispatch Orientation, Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) class in Columbus, Ohio, and two days of riding in a patrol car with a uniformed officer.

Dispatchers bid for shifts in three month increments. Every six months, dispatchers bid for the following six month period, broken up into two segments of approximately three months each. Shift bidding is completed by seniority.

Questions? Contact OSP Hub – Dispatch Management at 614-799-4656 or lfrey@dps.ohio.gov