Law enforcement and public safety officials have been recognizing Telecommunicators, or 911 dispatchers, during this National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
A dispatcher is the first person a caller talks to in an emergency situation. They are able to get emergency responders to the scene of an emergency and relay information to multiple agencies in the county they serve.
There are seven fire departments that Starke County dispatchers can reach in time of an emergency, along with police officers in Starke County, Knox, North Judson and Hamlet. They also coordinate response with medical helicopters, highway departments, towing companies, utility departments, and other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to aid in communication in times of need.
Starke County Sheriff’s Office Operations Commander Wayne James says dispatchers are the life line of the community.
“These women in this room everyday – when they put on their headset it’s serious business for them,” said James. “They take care of us. We get called out for certain things. We do different search warrants and we coordinate with them. They are asked to do a lot here in this room and there’s only two of them. They could be dealing with something right now and then you get an officer is running a traffic stop and they still have to answer to the officer, but that answer that 911 call, that person in crisis, we have to go it. I think they’re a phenomenal staff.”
Chief Deputy Jack Hudgens said law enforcement is very appreciative of the dispatchers.
Hudgens commented, “They just know how to calm the storm – to be able to be precise in a chaotic situation and deliver life saving instructions such as CPR. I know one of our dispatchers last year had to help deliver a baby over the phone. It’s not a job that you’re going to understand until you put the headset on, the phone goes off, and that you have to be able to manage those oceans. They all do a great job of doing that.”
The theme of this year’s National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, “Dedicated, Strong, Essential,” aptly reflects the resilience and fortitude demonstrated by Telecommunicators in the face of adversity. Their dedication ensures that help is always just a phone call away.
