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Police Dispatcher skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted Expert
Jennifer Gibbs Ph.D.
Police Dispatcher Example Skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical police dispatcher skills. We ranked the top skills for police dispatchers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 15.1% of police dispatcher resumes contained computer aided dispatch as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a police dispatcher needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 police dispatcher skills for your resume and career

1. Computer Aided Dispatch

Here's how police dispatchers use computer aided dispatch:
  • Organized requests for emergency assistance from citizens and dispatched to Police Officers via radio and computer aided dispatch monitors
  • Operate department Computer Aided Dispatch System.

2. Patrol

Here's how police dispatchers use patrol:
  • Prioritized inbound calls operated two-way radio/mobile data terminal equipment to dispatch calls to patrol units.
  • Dispatch designated patrol units to needed locations upon request via wireless radio system.

3. CAD

Here's how police dispatchers use cad:
  • Documented pertinent caller and event information into CAD.
  • Determined appropriate nature of call and call priority and used CAD (computer-aided dispatch) to assign calls to officers.

4. NCIC

Here's how police dispatchers use ncic:
  • Operate and disseminate NCIC information as requested by commissioned law enforcement officers.
  • Input court-provided information for finalizing protection orders in NCIC.

5. Law Enforcement Agencies

Here's how police dispatchers use law enforcement agencies:
  • Distribute police-related information to other law enforcement agencies via telephone, fax, radio and/or computer communications systems when necessary.
  • Communicate between emergency sites, law enforcement agencies, and all other individuals or groups requiring notifications.

6. Dispatch System

Dispatch systems are organized systems for transport, distribution, and dispatch of products via coordinated logistics.

Here's how police dispatchers use dispatch system:
  • Dispatched emergency response personnel using digital and/or analog voice communications equipment, and/or an emergency computer dispatch system.
  • Dispatched the proper emergency units necessary using a computer-aided dispatch system in accordance with established procedures.

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7. Public Safety Agencies

Here's how police dispatchers use public safety agencies:
  • Communicated with surrounding community public safety agencies.
  • Assign police officers and/or public safety agencies to respond to request for emergency and non- emergency services.
Select Skills To Add To Your Resume

8. Two-Way Radio

Here's how police dispatchers use two-way radio:
  • Operated two-way radio to communicate emergency situations to police officers in areas in distress.
  • Maintained computerized records of dispatching activity and two-way radio.

9. Criminal History

Criminal history is a list of misconducts for which the accused has already been convicted before. The criminal record and its existence may vary between jurisdictions within the same country and different nations.

Here's how police dispatchers use criminal history:
  • Operated telecommunication equipment and retrieved requests for information regarding vehicle registration, driving records and criminal history.
  • Processed request on the National Crime Information Center computer including license request and criminal history inquiries.

10. Data Entry

Data entry means entering data into a company's system with the help of a keyboard. A person responsible for entering data may also be asked to verify the authenticity of the data being entered. A person doing data entry must pay great attention to tiny details.

Here's how police dispatchers use data entry:
  • Managed all incoming and outgoing emergency calls into dispatch, coordinated officer response to emergency calls, data entry and database management
  • Provided customer service and handled data entry and extensive paperwork filing.

11. Telephone Calls

Telephone calls are a communication means through which a caller is connected to the called party. The call is done through a telecommunications device called a telephone. The caller can use a landline, mobile phone, or satellite phone to make the call.

Here's how police dispatchers use telephone calls:
  • Answer 911 emergency and administrative incoming telephone calls while determining necessary actions to be taken.
  • Received and screened priority emergency 911 and non-emergency telephone calls.

12. EMS

Emergency Medical Services, also known as EMS, is an emergency medical response system that provides stabilization and urgent preclinical and on-site treatment for serious illness and injury, as well as the transportation of patients who are unable to transport themselves to a definite health care center. The main objective of EMS is to provide emergency medical treatment to those who need urgent medical attention and to properly treat the patient's condition and transport them to a suitable health center or medical facility.

Here's how police dispatchers use ems:
  • Dispatched police and EMS personnel to emergency and non-emergency locations.
  • Served as a part-time dispatcher to dispatch and receive information for emergencies and non-emergency calls for Police, Fire and EMS.

13. Computer System

Here's how police dispatchers use computer system:
  • Monitored several complex radio frequencies; operated variety of communications equipment, radio consoles, telephones and computer systems.
  • Monitored several radio frequencies and operated radio consoles, telephones and computer systems.

14. Communications Equipment

Communication equipment is an installation or a facility that consists of the physical plants and equipment solely to disseminate information. Communication equipment includes mobile and/or portable radios, based and/or fixed station radios, and repeaters.

Here's how police dispatchers use communications equipment:
  • Assisted in an upgrade of the department's technology including computers, phones and emergency response communications equipment.
  • Exercised knowledge of the operation of telephone, radio, computer assisted dispatch, and other communications equipment.

15. Radio Transmissions

Here's how police dispatchers use radio transmissions:
  • Maintain two way radio dispatch requests and obtaining pertinent information for officers while answering incoming radio transmission.
  • Fielded communications via radio transmissions from field units expeditiously and without any delay.
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What skills help Police Dispatchers find jobs?

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What skills stand out on Police Dispatcher resumes?

Jennifer Gibbs Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg

Police officers need many skills to be successful on the job. The most important are written and oral communication skills and the ability to make ethical decisions with limited information quickly. Written communications skills are crucial. If a police report is poorly worded or incomplete, it can derail a criminal case. Police officers also need to talk to people of all ages from all walks of life in any circumstance. Often, police meet people on what may be the worst day of their lives when emotions are running high. Police need to be able to help calm a person while gathering information. Police need to be able to use their words and body language to empathize with someone who has been victimized, and they need to project authority, so people making poor decisions obey their commands.
This may be common sense, but research has demonstrated that communication and ethical decision-making skills are important for police officers. (See the research article published in 2017 in the Journal of Criminal Justice Education, entitled "An assessment of the relative importance of criminal justice learning objectives," by Baker and colleagues.) Baker and colleagues asked students, professionals, and college professors to rate the skills of hypothetical job applicants. These participants rated the following as the most important characteristics for criminal justice applicants (including law enforcement officers):

Ethics
Oral communication
Critical thinking
Sensitivity to diversity
Written communication skills
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about Police Dispatcher

List of police dispatcher skills to add to your resume

Police Dispatcher Skills

The most important skills for a police dispatcher resume and required skills for a police dispatcher to have include:

  • Computer Aided Dispatch
  • Patrol
  • CAD
  • NCIC
  • Law Enforcement Agencies
  • Dispatch System
  • Public Safety Agencies
  • Two-Way Radio
  • Criminal History
  • Data Entry
  • Telephone Calls
  • EMS
  • Computer System
  • Communications Equipment
  • Radio Transmissions
  • Radio Systems
  • Radio Communications
  • CPR
  • Police Radio
  • Radio Traffic
  • Background Checks
  • Computer Screens
  • Non-Emergency Situations
  • TDD
  • Non-Emergency Phone Calls
  • Police Reports
  • CCTV
  • Two Way Radios
  • Radio Consoles
  • Computer Equipment
  • Fire Ambulance
  • Incident Reports
  • Prioritize Calls
  • Data Systems
  • Vehicle Registration
  • CJIS
  • EMD
  • Officer Safety
  • License Plates
  • Police Assistance
  • Emergency Ambulance Service
  • Relative Priorities
  • Phone Lines
  • Non-Emergency Police
  • Police Agencies
  • Ambulances
  • Fire Service
  • Parking Enforcement

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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