Happy National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week 2021!
The second full week of each April is designated as National Public Safety Telecommunicators week, a week in which the citizens we serve along with our peers in the other disciplines of public safety – Law Enforcement, Fire Service and Emergency Medical Service – join us in the celebration and recognition of the vital role that emergency communications professionals play in day-to-day operations and emergency response. This year, National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is April 11th through April 17th. To the members of the Missouri Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials as well as our peers across the state, the Missouri Chapter Board would like to wish you a Happy National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week!
It has often been said that the Emergency Communicator aka Public Safety Telecommunicator aka Dispatcher is the first, first responder, and that has never been more apparent than this past year. Across the state and across the nation, Emergency Communications Centers (ECCs) modified their call taking and notification procedures to better serve and protect our citizens and field responders from the spread of COVID-19. While much of the state was taking precautions by staying home, these emergency communications professionals proved their status as essential, continuing to risk exposure and work from their centers.
This past year has seen unprecedented illness, anger, fear and frustration. In Missouri alone, we have witnessed the loss of loved ones and co-workers, protesting and/or riots in the streets, and the loss of responders out in the field. Through it all, Missouri’s emergency communications professionals remained steadfast and compassionate, providing quality services to their coverage area, without lapse. We have seen staggering turnover at a few centers around the state and in response, we have seen our peers join forces to support those centers until they were once again adequately staffed. We have seen peers volunteer to provide coverage so that another center’s communications staff could attend the funeral of their fallen responder.
The compassion, dedication and professionalism of the emergency communications profession is apparent now more than ever before. It has been seen by our citizens and responders time and time again throughout this past year and is making a positive impression. We thank each one of our members and peers for exhibiting true professionalism and dedication day in and day out. As our field continues to work towards official recognition as first responders at both the state and national level, I implore you to continue exhibiting your dedication and professionalism. Continue to educate your family, friends, field responders and local politicians about what it is our field does, what impact we have in every aspect of emergency response, and what impact the career has on our mental status and personal lives.
In closing, the Missouri Chapter of APCO would like to recognize and applaud the approximate 1600 emergency communications professionals who provide continuous manning of the roughly 210 primary and secondary Emergency Communications Centers across the state, which are comprised of local joint 9-1-1 Centers, Sheriff’s Offices, Police Departments, Fire Departments, Ambulance Dispatch Services, Departments of Public Safety, the Missouri State Highway Patrol as well as numerous other designations. Thank you for your service and dedication to the citizens, visitors and responders of your area and have an amazing 2021 National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week!
Sincerely,
Zachary Dykes
President, Missouri Chapter of APCO