State Police Dispatcher Trainee

ANNOUNCING STATE POLICE DISPATCHER TRAINEE RECRUITMENT!

The State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), Division of State Police is currently accepting applications for State Police Dispatcher Trainees for select shifts and locations.

Ready to be a real-life hero and be the calm voice in the storm for people across Connecticut? State Police Dispatchers are the “first-first” responders—the essential communication link between the public and law enforcement. This job is deep, wide, and absolutely essential. 

Every day, you will take calls from citizens experiencing some of the worst moments of their lives, requiring you to remain composed and function under trying conditions. You'll experience the excitement of handling time-sensitive, critical emergencies and gain satisfaction in knowing you truly make a difference. 

Your core mission involves gathering and disseminating critical information clearly and rapidly and requires you to expertly multi-task between the telephone, radio, and various computer systems. You'll be trained to handle critical incident management and be given the opportunity to help save a life until Troopers can respond. 

If you crave a fulfilling career that demands split-second decisions and offers the reward of helping people when they have nowhere else to turn, becoming a State Police Dispatcher Trainee is your calling.

WHAT OUR DEDICATED HEROES HAVE TO SAY

“I have been a Connecticut State Police dispatcher for 23 years. The number one question I get asked often is 'How do you like your job?' My answer is always, I love it most days but because like any other job, there are always good and bad days. I have handled all types of situations from simple routine calls to time sensitive, life or death emergencies. I think the most important thing to keep in mind, when you are dealing with highly stressful situations with angry and hysterical callers is to remember that this not about you. These people are having the worst day of their lives.  The callers are looking to you for guidance and compassion. There is no better feeling than knowing that you helped someone in their desperate time of need.”

-Dispatcher Darlene Hanna 

“I have been a dispatcher with the Connecticut State Police almost 19 years. I started as a dispatcher at a municipal police department. The State Police was a faster paced environment and higher call volume than what I was used to, which made the job more interesting and has given me so much more experience. As a State Police Dispatcher, we have opportunities to work at any troop location in the state which gives you a broad experience from high paced call volumes to small town experiences. I enjoy my job as it entails helping people, when they have no one to turn to for assistance. Most of the time, you really can make a difference in someone’s day. I find as a dispatcher we are the initial call for help in emergency situations until the Troopers can physically respond to the scene. When we help someone, it is very satisfying knowing you made a difference.” 

-Dispatcher Robert Ferone Jr.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

The State of Connecticut is committed to providing a safe and thriving environment for our community, and visitors. We believe our employees should receive comprehensive and competitive benefits for choosing to help us best serve our community, which include:

• Numerous career opportunities across our beautiful state, with opportunities for promotional advancement and geographic transfers;
• Adding to the attractive locations and upward mobility are excellent compensation and benefits;
• Work at a Forbes-recognized company! Connecticut is proud to be featured on both America's Best Employers by State and Best Employers for New Grads in 2024. With our dynamic job market and commitment to fostering a thriving workforce, Connecticut stands out as a top destination for both seasoned professionals and fresh graduates seeking to launch their careers;
• A comprehensive retirement plan (State Employees Retirement System Tier IV);
• A top-notch health and wellness benefit package (More on that here!);
• Eligibility to apply for Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Program (Learn more here!);
• Bank holidays worked, shift differential for working evenings, midnights, weekends and overtime;
• Receive a stipend for the life of the contract;
• Six (6) of the thirteen (13) state holidays are considered premium holidays (New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day) and dispatchers have the option to request pay out;
• Special duty assignments (ex. working Rentschler Field during activities);
• If you are a certified EMT in Connecticut, you get an annual skills premium stipend for the life of the contract.

COMPENSATION GUIDELINES

Hires start at $50,475 as a Dispatcher Trainee.  Upon completion of all training requirements & working test period, candidates are automatically promoted to State Police Dispatcher at $57,949. 

We are looking for candidates with the ability to:

• Calm individuals in crisis;
• Make split-second decisions;
• Gather and disseminate information clearly, accurately and rapidly in urgent situations;
• Multi-task between the telephone, radio and various computer systems in stressful situations;
• Maintain composure and function under the stress of an emergency situation;
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others;
• Read and speak English in a clear and effective tone of voice;
• Hear clearly and discern a variety of audible communications and signals simultaneously;
• Understand and be knowledgeable with computers, typing, data input and be comfortable with using technology.

In addition, candidates must be able to work mandatory overtime with little to no notice. Candidates normal work schedule WILL include weekends and holidays.

ABOUT US

DESPP is committed to protecting and improving the quality of life for all by providing a broad range of public safety services, training, regulatory guidance, and scientific services utilizing enforcement, prevention, education and state of the art science and technology. DESPP is structured on three key Strategic Pillars created by Commissioner Ronnell Higgins.

1. Operational Efficiency, Efficacy and Excellence • Making decisions through the thoughtful and informed use of data • Challenging the "that's the way it's always been done" construct—i.e., thinking outside the box as to how we can improve • Constantly seeking better results

2. Shared Fiscal Responsibility • Recognizing our collective responsibility to steward the agency's resources • Realigning planned budgetary actions to ensure that they are in taxpayers' interests • Preparing together for potential budget stresses and fiscal challenges

3. Ethics and Accountability • Critically and constantly measuring our practices against our policies • Performing quarterly performance evaluations agency-wide to measure success and flag areas needing improvement • Regularly engaging external partners for feedback and assessments • Opening our doors to Connecticut students and workers for apprenticeships, internships, and career pathways