Berrien County’s 911 Dispatcher of the Year is Tyler Prenkert. During a Thursday meeting of the Berrien County Board of Commissioners, the 911 Advisory Board’s Jack Fisher said Prenkert helped save a 72-year-old disabled woman from her burning home last December...

April 11-17 recognized as National Public Safety Telecommunicators week for hard work and poise under pressure. Clackamas County is honoring the hard work, poise and courage of its 911 dispatchers by recognizing April 11-17 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators...

SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (KNEP) - Dispatchers have an important role to play when they take in emergency 911 calls and to get the necessary help for those callers. This time of year they get recognition for all the hard work they do. It’s National Public Safety...

In the letter employees sent to city officials, they discussed the physical toll it has taken on them saying in part, “Multiple employees are ending up with medical issues, such as urinary tract infections and complications related to diabetes, back pain, and other problems due to the amount of hours we are working.”

Lead Communications Specialist Shelly Sample with the Pella Police Department discusses National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. [PODCAST]

    On Tuesday, May 4, registered voters in Genesee County will vote on renewing the monthly 911 surcharge of $1.86 on all landline, wireless, and voice over the internet protocol (VoIP) service users within the county.  The Genesee County Board of Commissioners voted...

LAREDO, Tex. (KGNS) - As National Public Safety Telecommunications Week wraps up, it’s time to thank those unseen faces who play a vital role in connecting us to first responders. Calls ranging from pregnant mothers who are unable to get to the hospital on time to a...

Thanks to a $150,000 grant received through the Cullman County E-911 Board, the City of Cullman’s emergency dispatch center has undergone some much-needed upgrades. The City of Cullman now has a fourth dispatching console, and new communications equipment was...

Patrick McNeil’s interest in a public service/law enforcement career began with the Police Explorer program in North Platte in his teen years. It led him to work for campus security in college and eventually to a four-year term as the Logan County sheriff. For the...

One group of frontline workers not getting enough praise for their work, according to one local civic group, is emergency telecommunicators. American Legion Post 520 representatives on Monday visited the Stanly County 911 Communications Center in the basement of the...

The parade was for National Public Safety Telecommunications Week: An annual celebration of the hard work of 911 operators across the country. COLUMBIA, S.C. — A line of police cars and fire trucks paraded downtown to show love and appreciation for 911 operators...

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — In moments of crisis, they provided the calm reassurance and expertise that saved lives.The Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Department honored four 911 telecommunications operators Thursday for their work to save lives over the phone or, in one...

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4 News) – According to the Utah Department of Workforce Services, the state had 630 emergency dispatchers in 2016. By 2026, that number is projected to grow to 770, which is an increase of 22.2%. The second week in April is National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, a time when we recognize Utah’s 911 dispatchers, who are the first to pick up the call for someone in need.

Here are some facts you probably didn’t know about emergency dispatchers

Emergency dispatchers often work long hours and holidays, deal with periodical shortages in staff, and are constantly speaking to callers on the worst day of their lives. But at the same time, these faceless heroes often provide strength, direction, and life-saving instructions for those on the other line. But their career comes with a lot of sacrifice and risks as well.

Summit County faces shortage of dispatchers, reports exceeding overtime budget by 400 percent

As the community pays tribute to these unsung heroes of public safety, it is crucial to understand the value each emergency dispatcher holds. In some cases, they are the connection between life and death. They are the messengers and information gatherers that set the foundation for a successful rescue mission.

To share their personal experiences on-the job, three local dispatchers joined ABC4’s Glen Mills for an IN FOCUS discussion. The first guest was Chelsea Gipson, Lead Dispatcher for the Summit County Sheriff’s Office. The second guest was Joseph Faiola, Communications Center Manager for the Utah Department of Public Safety. The third guest was Dawn Shumway, Lead Dispatcher for Davis County.

Behind The Badge: Davis County dispatcher lives to help others after surviving two major tragedies

In Part 1, the panel discussed what led them to becoming a 911 dispatcher, what kind of training or certification is required, and their favorite part about the job.

In Part 2, they talked about how they stay calm during stressful situations, how they deal with the mental and emotional toll of the job, and what resources exist for dispatchers.

Weight of the Call: The Dispatchers

In Part 3, they discussed what their favorite memories are on-the-job, Shumway’s “Zero Suicide” kits, the legislation re-introduced in Congress to classify dispatchers under the umbrella of public safety instead of the same category as receptionists, and what they want the public to know about their profession.

To watch the full IN FOCUS discussion with Gipson, Faiola, and Shumway, click on the video at the top of the article.

Catch IN FOCUS discussions with ABC4’s Rosie Nguyen weeknights on the CW30 News at 7 p.m.