The Brea Communications Center plays an important, and often underappreciated, role in the delivery of police services to the City of Brea. The Center is staffed 24/7 by Public Safety Dispatchers and is the Primary Service Answering Point (PSAP) for all 9-1-1 calls initiated in Brea. Dispatchers are responsible for answering all incoming emergency and non-emergency phone calls requesting police/fire assistance or reporting crimes. They then dispatch police officers and other personnel, relaying important information via radio or computer. Dispatchers must possess strong multi-tasking skills as they need to listen to and document incoming new information from officers, conduct computer data searches and relay results, sometimes while still on the phone with callers, and often transitioning between multiple calls for service at the same time. They also must have strong verbal skills and a calm demeanor, as they are routinely faced with callers who are in a state of stress or fear.

Advancements in technology over the past decades have resulted in the heavy use of computers in public safety dispatching. Brea Dispatchers utilize a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system to record incoming data, track calls for service and other activity, and monitor the locations of field personnel. These same advancements apply to telephone technology. All landline 9-1-1 calls automatically provide the street address location of the caller, an important feature in times when callers are unable to provide their location due to injury, stress, or unfamiliarity with the area. With the proliferation of cellular phone use, more recent advancements in 9-1-1 technology now direct cellular callers to the jurisdiction of the nearest cellular tower repeater. In the past, all cellular 9-1-1 calls were first routed to the California Highway Patrol, which then had to determine the location and transfer the caller to the appropriate agency.

Dispatchers must complete a state-mandated training course, and undergo an extensive on-the-job training program. The job is a demanding one, which requires Dispatchers to work 10-12 hour shifts, sometimes on nights, weekends, and holidays. The job of Public Safety Dispatcher is crucial in providing effective and efficient police services, and although sometimes stressful, a career as a Dispatcher can be extremely rewarding.

The Brea Police Department is recruiting for entry level Dispatchers. If you are interested in applying, or know someone who is, please go to https://jobs.cityofbrea.net/CurrentOpenings.aspx for more information.