County outlines recruitment, retention steps as dispatch center remains short-staffed

County administration ("Mr. D.") and Captain Tim Kemp told the Public Safety Committee that the dispatch center remains understaffed amid consolidation work for Hartford and Germantown and is currently about six positions short, including two supervisory slots.

Officials described pay adjustments in recent years — moving pay ranges to the 75th percentile and a roughly 20% boost with the 2024 budget — but said placement within pay ranges has limited the ability to slot lateral hires without disrupting internal pay equity. Kemp said the county is working on a plan to provide slotting relief so experienced lateral candidates can be hired without exceeding internal salary norms.

Recruitment strategies include targeted outreach to high‑school guidance counselors, leveraging a MPTC dispatch elective, tuition reimbursement paths for candidates who later pursue academy training, returning retired dispatchers for administrative tasks, and wellness supports such as peer support and annual psychological check‑ins. Kemp said the center has a training capacity limit, and managers are prioritizing filling two supervisory positions and then remaining communications openings.

Supervisor Newman asked whether dispatch uses three shifts; officials confirmed three eight‑and‑a‑half‑hour shifts are standard and that alternative schedules (10‑ or 12‑hour) may be explored once staffing levels improve. Officials said part‑time positions proved difficult and the county continues experimenting with different recruitment and retention approaches. No formal action was taken.