Portland Regional COmmunications Center

Submit an online application, accompanied by a resume and cover letter by clicking the button below  

 We use an online written entrance exam that is administered here at the Portland Police Department. The exam is called the National Public Safety Dispatcher Selection Inventory (NPSDSI) through IO Solutions. The test is a timed two-hour exam that consists of three separate sections, automatically timed by the audio narration (listening comprehension, mapping scenarios, and problem-solving (equally weighted in composite score). 

 Candidates who pass the written entrance exam are invited to participate in an oral board interview.  

 All candidates remaining in the process are given a background book to complete. The completed book is assigned to an investigator who will work to verify its contents. The purpose of the investigation is to uncover any disqualifying events in a candidate's history. Honesty is at a premium here and false information, misinformation, or failure to disclose information will lead to removal from the hiring process. In order to expedite the process, you may download a background book and complete it prior to your interview.  Disqualifiers during the background phase include illegal drug use within five years of application. Marijuana use within one year of application date is considered an automatic disqualifer police and dispatch candidates . Other disqualifiers are a less than honorable discharge from any branch of the military, convictions or have engaged in any conduct which would constitute Murder, Class A, Class B, Class C, or Class D crimes, or any provision of the Maine Criminal Code, Chapters 15, 19, 25, or 45 which include thefts of property valued at over $ 500.00, Falsification in Official Matters, Bribery & Corrupt Practices, and Drugs. Candidates are removed from the hiring process if they falsify or misrepresent any information during the application process , background investigation or polygraph examination.  

 Candidates who satisfactorily complete the interview and background investigation may receive a conditional job offer. Upon acceptance of that offer, the next stages of the process take place.  

 All applicants must complete a polygraph examination. Again, the emphasis is on honesty.  

 This stage consists of written testing instruments employed by a Department consultant. The results of these tests and an interview are transmitted to the Department. Candidates must satisfactorily complete the job suitability assessment to continue in the hiring process. 

The hiring process can take 3-4 months to complete. It is recommended that all candidates participate in a job shadow at some point during the hiring process.