Their role is being highlighted this week as part of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) — For many people, calling 911 is something they hope they never have to do.
But for Susie Tuck, being on the other end of that call has been her life’s work, long before 911 was even an option in Georgetown County.
By Arielle Roth, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications
During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 12 to 18), we recognize the dedicated professionals who answer 9-1-1 calls and coordinate lifesaving responses every hour of every day. They are the backbone of our nation’s emergency response system.
To mark the week, and see this work firsthand, I toured the Fairfax County, Virginia, Department of Public Safety Communications (DPSC), where we saw how AI tools are helping triage non-emergency calls—which make up about half of the center’s total call volume—reducing hold times and allowing telecommunicators to focus on the most urgent situations.
The second full week of April is recognized each year as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, bringing well-deserved attention and recognition to the public safety dispatchers who are an invaluable part of every emergency response team.
This week of recognition, sponsored by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International, honors the thousands of men and women nationwide who answer emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance to the world’s citizens.
The voices you hear in an emergency are rarely seen, but across Northern Nevada, they are always there when it matters most.
This week, agencies across the region are recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, observed April 12 through April 18, 2026, honoring the people who answer emergency calls and coordinate responses behind the scenes.
The Waukesha County Communications Center of dispatchers manages the calls and text messages for 20 police, fire and emergency medical service departments.
And those who work there are used to 12-hour shifts, five days a week.
Patrick McNally, Nathan Russell, Kontessa Mouzon, Jasmine Freeman, Ashley Stilling and Tracy Meunier do their best to manage the stress of the job. They might encouage each other to do a few squats to break up the day. Or hit the in-office gym.
