National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week honors rarely seen, vitally important group (PA)

WEST CHESTER, Pa. (WPVI) — April 13-19 is designated as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW ) in the United States, honoring 911 dispatchers’ commitment, service, and sacrifice.

It’s a job that keeps you on your toes, and Michael Groff has been doing it for more than a decade in West Chester Borough. It can be high-stress and high-stakes meeting the community’s needs and serving as a lifeline to officers and others in the field.

Commemorating National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week | El Paso County Sheriff (CO)

“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!”

The Unseen Heroes: Celebrating Our 911 Telecommunicators

By  Zenji Nakazawa | Acting Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau

Could you talk a distraught parent through delivering their baby and clamping the umbilical cord?  What about guiding a lost, elderly person battling dementia and paranoia, along with her six-year-old grandson, out of the woods to safety?  Now, imagine doing all of this over the phone, where every decision can mean the difference between life and death.  This is just a glimpse into the extraordinary challenges our nation’s dedicated 911 telecommunicators face on any given workday.

During this year’s National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, I want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate our incredible 911 telecommunicators across the nation.

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Hawaii County opens $31M Emergency Call Center

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.”