Coshocton Sheriff's Office seeking new dispatchers
COSHOCTON − The Coshocton County Sheriff's Office is currently hiring for what the department deems an essential position in emergency dispatchers.
Lt. J.D. Hardway said they've received about a half dozen applications so far with two or three being prime candidates. There are two positions opened due to two dispatchers recently leaving for different jobs. He hopes to hire soon.
The department has eight full-time dispatchers and a supervisor with two dispatchers working per shift with three shifts per day. Dispatchers handle calls for the sheriff's office and other county first responders such as Coshocton County Emergency Medical Services and fire departments. In 2021, dispatch handled 13,614 911 calls.
Hardway admits it's a tough and emotional position based on the volume and types of calls received on a daily basis. In emergency situations, dispatchers might need to handle multiple calls at one and work overtime without notice.
"They're the heartbeat of the office. Everything goes through communications before we do anything," Hardway said. "At times it can be very high stress. There's a lot of high and lows with it."
Basic qualifications are one being at least 18-years-old, having a high school diploma or GED and a valid driver's license with no more than six points on their driving record and no felony convictions. Candidates will undergo a background check, drug screen and several interviews. Candidates must also complete comprehensive job training through the first year of employment which includes training in the classroom and on the job.
Dispatchers also need basic knowledge of safety and security, customer service, telecommunications and geography. Not to mention solid decision making and thinking logically, the ability to be an active listener with excellent communication skills, working well with others, writing clearly and spelling correctly, following instructions, being able to establish priorities and properly passing on information.
"We are looking for someone who can multi-task very well, because there are a lot of things going on at the same time in dispatch; someone who can talk well with people on the phone, because they're on the phone a lot," Hardway said. "Someone who has a good knowledge of how to deal with people and communicate well."
The sheriff's office is currently working on creation of a new Coshocton Justice Center that will feature a call center. The project estimated at $28.3 million will feature a new jail, administrative offices and the Coshocton County Prosecutor's Office. Located at the end of North Third Street where Steel Ceilings once stood, a groundbreaking should be this fall with construction to take about two years.
Hardway said they don't have details worked out yet, but they hope to upgrade the dispatch console and hire at least two new people for call intakes during high call volume periods throughout the day upon the move to the new facility.
Applications are available on the sheriff's office website or by stopping in at the office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday. Starting pay is $21.26 per hour hour with benefits such as retirement and medical.
Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with close to 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on Twitter at @llhayhurst.
This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Coshocton Sheriff's Office seeking new dispatchers
