Every year during the second week of April, the telecommunications personnel in the public safety community are honored. This week-long event, initially set up in 1981 by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office in California, is a time to celebrate and thank those who dedicate their lives to serving the public. It is a week that is set aside so everyone can be made aware of their hard work and dedication.
HAMLET — Emergency Communications Director of Chatham County Michael Reitz enrolled in Richmond Community College’s new associate degree program for telecommunicators last fall, and he is already seeing the benefits of the training.
“It has helped me manage my department more effectively, whether it’s a personnel issue that needs to be addressed or managing a multi-million-dollar project. Additionally, interacting with my fellow classmates gives additional insights into how others handle similar situations,” Reitz said. “We’re all in this together, and we can learn so much from each other.”
Chesterfield Township’s public safety dispatchers are being celebrated for their hard work and dedication to keep the community safe.
The Chesterfield Township Board of Trustees on March 26 adopted a proclamation recognizing April 14 to 20 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. The proclamation is in recognition of the members of the Public Safety Department who play an essential role in providing high-quality emergency communications to residents.
The designation of April 14-20, 2024 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week recognizes the role of emergency dispatchers in safeguarding communities nationwide. Among these vital responders is Kane County’s 911 center,
Dickson Mayor Don L. Weiss Jr. issued a proclamation recognizing the employees of the city’s Emergency Communications Department for National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week April 14-20.
Chelsey Hardy, the former emergency dispatcher who sued the city of Salem for retaliation, said she’s grateful for a six-figure settlement, but said it’s not enough to compensate her for all she lost – a career, a sense of identity and purpose.
As others pulled out of the exam and two employees in the higher communications dispatch job voluntarily stepped down in solidarity with Hardy, the city ended up canceling the exam, Hardy said.
