BOUNDARY COUNTY
Public Information
TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO SERVE
Foster Mayo
This is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 8th to 14th. I have written about their commitment and dedication before but cannot overemphasis the importance of the contribution that our public safety call takers and dispatchers are to our community’s wellness and safety. The following excerpt from an ISP press release tells it far better than I could.
“This week is recognized annually as a tribute to those who serve on the very front lines of public safety that are heard, but not seen by those they serve. These professionals, commonly referred to as dispatchers, help save countless lives by answering emergency calls, dispatching emergency personnel and equipment and providing compassion and support to callers in distress. All of their work is done over the phone and radio waves with split second decisions, at all hours of the day and night, with precision and courtesy, under tremendous pressure. The celebration also recognizes the technicians that maintain radio and emergency phone systems, communications staff trainers, communications center personnel, and other public safety telecommunications staff across the country who work tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to help the public and public safety personnel during emergencies.
"The public safety dispatchers throughout Idaho are the unsung heroes of public safety," said Idaho State Police Captain Kevin Haight. "The public should know what every law enforcement officer, firefighter and emergency medical service provider knows. That is, that the highly trained dispatchers behind the scene are the people that allow us to arrive to a scene quickly and safely to provide aid to those in crisis. This is our chance every year to thank them and let the community know how important their role is in protecting the public."” 1
1Idaho ISP News Release April 11 at 7:09AM, Tim Marsano ISP PIO