National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week Showcases Dispatchers

Pulaski County Sheriff's Department
Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department

When you have an emergency and call 911, the first person you talk to is an emergency dispatcher. This week we are saluting all of those who assist the public in the case of an emergency and who can communicate to all personnel in the case of an emergency. It’s National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer said the dispatchers are the most important people in an emergency situation.

“They’re the lifeline between the officers and what they need on the road as far as assistance and they’re also the lifeline with civilians,” said Sheriff Gayer.

Sheriff Gayer was quick to note that dispatchers are emergency medical dispatchers.

“They can give life saving information over the phone. If you have a loved one that has suffered a stroke or is choking, they can give information to you to save that person’s life and prolong it long enough to get the professional medical people there on scene to save that person’s life.”

The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department has a full dispatch staff to help you in your time of need.

“We currently have 11 dispatchers who are all trained and certified at the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department. That’s one supervisor that can also fill in working the console and then we have at least a minimum of two dispatchers on 24 hours a day. In 2012 , they took in over 7,000 calls of people either needing police, the fire department or an ambulance.”

Take time this week to thank a dispatcher for all of the hard work they do.