Each year, the second full week of April is dedicated to the men and women who serve as public safety tele-communicators. Communications officers are the people who take calls in times of crisis, the voices that comfort the frightened and injured, and the ones who offer reassurance that help is on the way.
They help save countless lives by processing and prioritizing incoming calls, and dispatching fellow law enforcement officers, firefighters, and rescue personnel. Moreover, they keep emergency responders safe by providing them with the most accurate, up-to-date information while monitoring their activities by radio.
The scope of a tele-communicator’s job includes a wide range of radio, computer, medical, telephone, mapping and teletype duties; counseling the injured and providing security in times of distress. These highly trained, compassionate individuals play a vital role in protecting citizens and communities alike.
National Public Safety Tele-communicators Week honors the many communications officers who sometimes go unnamed, but are real heroes to many. The Haines Borough Police Department joins the community in saluting these dedicated professionals, and thanking them for their commitment and the sacrifices they make every day. Tele-communicators are the very first of the first responders and truly make a difference in the efficiency and effectiveness of any emergency response system.
By officially recognizing the communications officers of the borough, the hope is to raise public awareness of the critical job they perform in the name of public safety.
Thank you, Celeste Grimes, Jane Clark, Tamsen Cassidy, Carrie Brown and Rosalie Loewen.