It takes a special kind of person to be a 911 dispatcher, says Dispatch Supervisor Jennifer Pitt, who has worked at the Multi-Agency Communications Center for about 17 years.
“It’s not for the weak-hearted,” Pitt said. “It really takes a special kind of person to do this job.”
Seven months after warning about a brewing staffing crisis, Luzerne County 911 Executive Director Fred Rosencrans is thankful county council has approved a new union contract with higher wages.
“I am relieved,” Rosencrans said. “I truly appreciate the county manager and council’s support for this contract. It’s our hope it will help us get quality candidates to fill vacancies and also to keep employees.”
After experiencing the summer of 2021 when Bucks County suffered through tornadoes, flooding and the lasting effects of the pandemic tested, and highlighted the need, for upgrades to the county Emergency Operations Center in Ivyland.
Officials broke ground Thursday on a 1,000 square-foot addition to the center costing $1.8 million, which will be paid for with funds from the county’s $122 million federeal American Rescue Plan allocation and a grant from the Department of Homeland Security.
The average span of an emergency dispatcher’s career is only 3 – 5 years. Carol Keeler retires on Thursday, June 30, with 29 years served with the Michigan State Police and another five with a different agency.
The job she has performed for over three decades is critical to public safety. A dispatcher is literally THE lifeline for police officers and citizens, during some calls.
“If you asked me five years ago if I thought I had saved lives? The answer was no,” said Keeler. “Looking back now, I realize I have. I’ve talked down suicidal men and women, explained CPR over the phone, and been able to get helpful resources to people. I feel like I have done good.”
