Your Training: San Diego Police -
Police 911 Dispatcher (Phone) &
Police Dispatcher (Radio)

Training takes place in the Communications Division, which is located within the SDPD headquarters building at 1401 Broadway Street, San Diego.

The Communications Division's Police 911 Emergency Dispatchers (phone) receive the following training:

• 160 hours - Basic Dispatcher Class
340 hours - Hands-on Training
• 120 hours - Dispatch Academy
  = 620 total training hours
  

Phone trainees, upon completion of formal training, will be administratively assigned to a shift for approximately two to three shift changes. After completing the assigned shifts the employee participates in a seniority-based selection process for shifts and days off.

The Communications Division's Police Dispatchers (radio) receive the following training:

• 340 hours - Phone Dispatcher Training
• 780 hours - Radio Dispatcher Training
  = 1,120 total training hours

Radio trainees, upon completion of formal training, will be administratively assigned to a shift rotation until they complete one year as a police dispatcher, and are then eligible to participate in the point/bump system for shift and day off selection.

The Communications Division operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The shift schedules vary and can change depending upon the season. Communications full-time staff work four ten-hour shifts with three consecutive days off each week.