National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week April 11-17

LIBERTY, April 14, 2010 - This week is a great time to say “Thank You”. This week was traditionally introduced in Congress in 1991. The resolution stated this would be the recognized week for National Public Safety Telecommunication Week. Congress also stated there were more than 200,000 telecommunications specialists.

During this week we recognize the “first responder”, public safety telecommunicators, for their contributions towards the safety and security of communities around the world. Every day, millions of people depend on the skill, expertise and commitment of these professionals.

“Telecommunicators” serve as the front line in ensuring the public’s safety. Their efforts go unnoticed many times, but when lives are on the line, we rely on their quick actions. This week is a time to reflect on how much we, the general public, as well as those of us in the industry owe this skilled and critically important group. This week enhances public awareness, and promotes the much needed recognition to the seemingly nameless and faceless individuals who help save countless lives by responding to emergency calls, dispatching emergency professionals and equipment and providing moral support to citizens in distress or with concerns. These men and women are behind the scenes first responders and they are completely necessary for any department, I refer to them as “Silent Hero’s”, and we thank them for the very important job they do.

Telecommunicators not only respond to the citizens, but also to Law Enforcement personnel. Many times they are the officers only backup. They continually check on the Officers locations and safety of the officers while on calls.

Telecommunicators must be able to stay calm, even when the people on the other end of the line are terrified. And they must quickly gather enough information to dispatch the call to law enforcement, fire rescue and/or emergency medical personnel.

Telecommunicators are TCLEOSE certified with 80 hours of classroom training, and a required 2-8 week field training program (if they are first time dispatchers), before being allowed to fill the position as a Telecommunicator. They too can move to Intermediate and Advanced certifications, and they are also required by TCLEOSE to have continuing education hours.

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