By HEATHER RUPPE
The Colleton County Sheriff’s Office is having the same staff shortage woes as other law enforcement agencies nationwide and is hiring, especially for 911-dispatchers.
The sheriff’s office is holding a job fair on Monday, August 30th.
On this day, dispatcher interviews will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, interviews for detention officers will be from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and interviews for deputies will be held from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The lack of dispatchers is at a crucial low.
According to Colleton County Sheriff’s Office Spokeswoman Shalane Lowes, the sheriff’s office currently has 12 dispatcher slots available. Dispatchers are the 911-operators in the countywide emergency intake center.
In 2017, there was a total of 186,878 911-emergency calls that came into the Colleton County Dispatch Center.
“Dispatching is a stressful job that requires highly efficient communication and listening skills, multi-tasking, stress management, typing, and quick thinking during highly stressful situations,” said Lowes. “However, dispatching is also a gratifying job. Dispatchers are the first voice of reason someone hears when it’s possibly one of the most traumatic times of their life. Dispatchers train to help save lives while first responders are en route to the call. Through this efficient training, CCSO dispatchers continue to save lives and help solve countless crimes because of quick thinking and asking the right questions.”
To aid in retention and to help fill the vacancies, the local sheriff’s office was granted an increase to its starting pay for dispatchers, deputies, and detention officers. This was done in July, at the beginning of the agency’s fiscal year budget: Colleton County Council oversees the sheriff’s office fiscal year budget.
“This increase was one of the main goals for Sheriff Hill and Chief Johnson,” said Lowes. “With the support of county council, the increase was granted.
“This increase aids CCSO in competing with surrounding counties’ agencies. One of the main struggles of recruiting qualified applicants was pay. Our starting salary wasn’t in the ballpark with surrounding counties, and was hurting recruiting because applicants would take employment elsewhere or couldn’t afford to leave their current position due to the substantial decrease in pay.”
“We’re hiring certified and uncertified applicants for all positions,” she said.
If they are not already certified, the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office will send the uncertified candidate to the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy to obtain their certification, at no cost to the candidate.
“Applicants train and work while going through the process, earning pay,” she said.
911-Dispatcher Qualifications
Dispatchers must be 18 in age, for deputies and detention officers 21. All applicants must be a U.S. citizen, possess a high school diploma or GED, have a valid S.C. driver’s license, clean record other than minor traffic offenses, and pass a written exam. Dispatcher applicants are also required to take a typing test, mastering at least 40 wpm. Interested individuals planning on attending the job fair are asked to bring their resume.
Colleton County Sheriff’s Office benefits include:
Blue Cross Blue Shield State Insurance
Dental plans
Vision plans
Paid vacation
Paid holidays
Paid sick leave
State retirement
Fitness center
