As a matter of regulation, Public Safety Dispatch supervisors and managers are eligible to attend and receive reimbursement for most courses just as are sworn officers, supervisors, and managers within the organization. Reimbursement for non-sworn and paraprofessional personnel is computed in the same manner as for sworn personnel according to the reimbursement plan for each course appropriate for the employee’s classification as set forth in the PAM Section E-1-4(a). 

There are currently 356 agencies that participate in the POST Public Safety Dispatcher Program.  As part of that process, those agencies agree to adhere to POST guidelines relative to the training of new dispatchers, including completion of a Communications Training program.  As the first quasi-supervisor position, the Communication Training Officer receives training in various supervisory and leadership areas, including;

• Ethics and Leadership, 
• Performance Assessment, 
• Effective Communication, and
• Counseling.

Upon promotion to a first line supervisory position, Public Safety Dispatchers are then eligible to attend one of several, supervisory-specific courses, including: the Civilian Supervisory Course, the Dispatch-Specific Supervisory course, or the Sworn Supervisory Course.  Course selection would be at the discretion of the employing agency, and may depend upon the background and essential job functions of the dispatch supervisor.  

After completion of the initial Supervisory Course, Dispatch Managers are also eligible to attend:

• POST Management Course
• POST Executive Development Course
• POST Command College

The Management and Executive Development courses require approval of the Course Coordinator, who indicates he receives and approves several requests per year.  Command College is through application and assessment.

In addition, there are numerous POST-approved supervisor, management, and leadership courses available to dispatchers as members of the POST program.  A sampling of relevant courses includes:

• Leadership and Accountability
• Leadership Development Course
• Leadership Effectiveness
• Leading the Professional Employee
• Team Management
• Dispatch Staffing and Scheduling
• Dispatch Conflict Management/Communications

Regulation 1011 allows for a Dispatch Supervisor Certificate to be awarded to employees who have successfully completed a POST-certified Supervisory Course, and possess a minimum of two years law enforcement experience as a permanent first-level supervisor or higher.

The only supervisory or management course unavailable to Public Safety Dispatchers is the Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute (SBSLI).  Historically, only sworn first line supervisors have been eligible to attend.  This is by way of internal policy and attendance discretion is currently vested with the Executive Director, as designated during the creation of the program in 1988. As a flagship program for POST, SBSLI has earned a well-deserved reputation for rigorous and relevant coursework.  Attendees frequently report increases in capability and capacity as leaders upon return to their respective agencies.

Program attendance and minimum entry requirements have traditionally been driven by the goals of the program, including the express purpose of "maximizing the quality of leadership within the rank overseeing the actions of the largest number of law enforcement employees and responsible for the greatest breadth of organizational activities-to include service in many agencies as second in command." 

It would appear that the current supervisory and management courses offered by POST are being well utilized by Public Safety Dispatch personnel.  As of November 13, 2017, 416 out of 706 (59%) of designated Dispatch Supervisors (DISS) have attended at least a basic supervisory course. 

The sworn Supervisor Course was attended by 103 non-sworn personnel in 2014, 94 in 2015, and 75 in 2016. 

The Management Course was utilized by non-sworn personnel on 13 occasions in 2014, 31 in 2015, and 31 in 2016.  As dispatch management is often overseen by sworn personnel, and these are not mandated courses for non-sworn staff by regulation, attendance would be expected to be lower than legislatively required courses.

The inclusion of Public Safety Dispatchers Supervisors, in the SBSLI program would offer another route to explore supervisory and leadership traits, qualities, and expectations and provide further avenues for personal and professional growth.  

SBSLI graduates are expected to develop the ability to:

• Correlate the relationship between personal and organizational principles and values
• Exercise greater leadership in personal and professional activities
• Increase personal influence with individuals and groups to accomplish organizational goals
• Analyze issues from multiple perspectives
• Develop increased self-confidence and confidence in the ability of others
• Provide support and development for peers and subordinates
• Recognize and address areas for personal improvement
• Effectively integrate management skills and leadership qualities

A typical successful student ends the program with a willingness to learn, is open to new ideas, and is able to engage in deep self-examination of values and beliefs.

It seems unlikely that these skills are necessarily limited only to first-line "sworn" supervisors, and may be as applicable for Public Safety Dispatch Supervisors as well.  However, Dispatch Supervisors were not the intended recipients of the original or subsequent SBSLI coursework, and having never allowed Dispatch Supervisor attendance at SBSLI, it is impossible to know whether or not the curriculum, format, or structure are relevant for Dispatch Supervisors throughout the State.  

There are numerous and comprehensive supervisory, management, and leadership courses currently available to Public Safety Dispatchers who participate in the POST program.

However, the ability of attendance at SBSLI may further enhance the professionalism of law enforcement agencies in California.  To that end, in 2018, depending on Fiscal Year 18/19 funding, POST will attempt two SBSLI pilot programs with Public Safety Dispatch Supervisors.

The intent of POST personnel is to first place groups of at least two Public Safety Dispatchers alongside Peace Officers in two SBSLI sessions. Secondly, and funding permitted, POST intends to pilot one Public Safety Dispatcher-specific presentation of SBSLI to gauge the applicability and relevance of a stand-alone course for Public Safety Dispatch Supervisors. 

Based upon the results of these two pilot studies, POST will then be in a stronger position to draw conclusions about the applicability and format that best serves the needs of Public Safety Dispatch Supervisors and sworn attendees of SBSLI.