Alabama News
National Public Safety Telecommunications Week was held April 11 through April 17th. Four members of the telecommunications department received awards today including dispatcher of the year and supervisor of the year.
Mayor Steven Reed was in attendance to give recognition to the department and share a few encouraging words to the employees.
The telecommunications department are true first responders since they are the ones who answer the 911 calls. Since the pandemic first started they have been working harder than ever to ensure the safety of the community whenever a call is placed.
Last year, 911 dispatchers took 2 million emergency calls in Oregon responding to pandemic, floods, fires and a destructive winter storm. Governor Kate Brown honored 911 operators by declaring this Public Safety Telecommunications Week. (April 11-17, 2021)
Oregon 911 Dispatchers took 2 million calls last year in response to the pandemic, wildfires, floods, freezes and general emergencies.
Credit Oregon Office of Emergency Management
State 911 Program Manager Frank Kuchta says as wildfires burned around the state last summer, dispatchers remained on the front lines.
“Many of the telecommunicators and dispatchers that work throughout the state have very close ties with their communities,” he said, “and in many instances they are very familiar with the caller on the other end of the line.”