Ensuring patrol officers and public safety through careful handling and coordination of calls for assistance and service.
The process of screening and prioritizing calls for assistance and service, dispatching patrol and other emergency units, ensuring patrol officer safety, and coordinating a situation through its conclusion are the cornerstones of our Regional Communications Officer’s daily dispatching duties.
RCC North
Located in the District 1 office, this center covers:
- Northern Idaho – District 1
- Central Idaho – District 2
Emergency: 208-209-8730
Business: 208-209-8620
Fax: 208-209-8618
Idaho State Police RCC – North
615 West Wilbur Ave.
Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815
Coordinator, Melissa Stroh
RCC South
Located at the Headquarters Complex, this center covers:
- Western Idaho – District 3
- Southern Idaho – District 4
- Southeastern Idaho – District 5
- Eastern Idaho – District 6
Emergency: 208-846-7500
Business: 208-846-7550
Fax: 208-846-7520
Idaho State Police RCC – South
Headquarters Complex
700 S. Stratford Drive
Meridian, ID 83642
Coordinator, Denise King
What It Takes To Be A Dispatcher
Dispatching for the ISP is a rewarding, fulfilling, and exciting career. If you can calmly and accurately process information during high-stress or emergency situations, this may be the perfect job for you! These positions require excellent interpersonal skills, good memory retention, and the desire to serve the public. Regional Communications Officers (RCO) operate a base radio station and related equipment to receive messages and relay information between Idaho State Police and emergency personnel to accident and crime scenes. These positions are the critical links between police, emergency personnel, and the public.
Flexibility in Your Schedule
Successful applicants must be willing to work rotating shifts (days, swing, graveyard), weekends, holidays, etc., as our centers must be staffed 24 hours a day every year. Currently, our dispatchers work four ten-hour shifts a week.
A Clean Past
Applicants are subject to an extensive personal history background check, including substance screening and a polygraph before employment. They must have good basic computer skills, be able to type 50 net words per minute or more and submit a certificate valid within the previous six months attesting to this skill.
Calmness Under Pressure
RCCs receive emergency calls from people with different socioeconomic backgrounds in emotionally charged and stressful circumstances. Calls are from individuals with differing levels of comprehension and/or may be under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or in a stressful situation. Calls require patience and understanding, with prompt, courteous, and accurate attention to detail while information is handled in conflicting situations and life-threatening emergencies.
Communication Systems
Radio systems provide one of the most essential departmental services – Communications. The capability of ISP to accomplish their mission without an effective communications system would be seriously restricted. For this reason, our communication systems and procedures are streamlined, efficient, and standardized. The primary responsibility of the RCC is to ensure officer safety.
Goals
Our communications revolve around accuracy, brevity, and clarity to ensure patrol officer safety. It is through the application of these principles that ISP successfully handle all phases of communications. Success, speed, and safety of the operation remain our primary goals.
Documentation
RCOs prepare written documentation and type reports. Successful candidates must be able to physically hear and record messages transmitted over the radio, telephone, or similar devices.
ISP mobilizes the Mobile Command Center to support incidents and special field operations to aid in the safe, successful, and peaceful conclusions of situations throughout Idaho. These might include hazardous material spills, major flooding, hostage situations, or special emphasis patrols. Centers are staffed by RCOs, Regional Communications Supervisors (RCSs), and Regional Communications Center Coordinators (RCCCs).
Need to report something on our roadways? Dial *ISP (*477) on your cell from anywhere in Idaho.