SPOKANE VALLEY, WA — A 45-year-old woman, referred to as “Jane Doe” by authorities, was arrested on April 13, 2025, for repeatedly misusing the 911 emergency text system after sending more than 300 messages in less than three hours.
“During this week, we honor the dedication and hard work of our EPSO telecommunications team, including dispatchers, call-takers, dispatch technicians, trainers, and all public safety telecommunicators who respond when called upon,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “To our unseen heroes behind the console, the voice on the line—thank you for being the ‘first’ responder at the scene, the calm in the storm, and for showing compassion to the citizens of the Pikes Peak region.
“Your commitment, kindness, and professionalism save lives and keep our law enforcement officers and first responders safer every day. We appreciate you and are grateful!”
Hawaii County’s new 17,127-square-foot Emergency Call Center in Hilo opened this week, housing dispatch operations for the Police and Fire departments.
“After decades of planning, we now have a state-of-the-art facility where our police and fire dispatchers can work side by side,” Mayor Kimo Alameda said Monday at the blessing ceremony. “This new Emergency Call Center represents a major investment in public safety and, importantly, supports the essential around-the-clock work of these dedicated professionals.”
“Shots fired! Shots fired!”
The patrol officer shrieked as he radioed in his location. Other officers acknowledged they were on the way.
It was 1979 and I was training a new dispatcher to take my place in the radio room so I could move on to a patrol officer position. The new guy sat frozen beside me, his face pale and stiff.
VERONA, Va. (WHSV) – April 13-19 marks National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, which highlights the importance of 911 dispatchers for emergency situations.
A 911 call doesn’t go straight to a local fire or police agency. Rather, someone picks up the phone and asks some variation of “911, what’s your emergency?” The people who work in these call centers can have a variety of titles but are often referred to as “dispatchers.”
