NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATIONS WEEK

National Public Safety Telecommunications Week

The Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office will be honoring the men and women who serve as dispatchers during National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, April 9-15, 2017.

Telecommunicators (dispatchers), are your 911 call takers. They handle calls from people during some of the worst moments of their lives. They are actually the first responders to an emergency. Every day people depend on the skill, expertise and commitment of the men and women who work in public safety telecommunications.

The term “9-1-1” is often associated with rapid emergency response, poise under pressure, aid and compassion in times of distress and critical decision-making within seconds. Many people don’t stop to think about these seemingly nameless, faceless individuals until they experience actual emergencies themselves. These professionals make the difference between life and death in many instances. Dispatchers are the vital link to those calling for help and to our deputies, police officers, firefighters, and paramedics. Dispatchers monitor emergency personnel’s activities by radio and telephone, and provide them with lifesaving information to ensure their safety. The safety of our deputies, police officers, firefighters, and paramedics is dependent upon the quality and accuracy of information obtained by dispatchers from the citizens who telephone the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office.

The 911 Center is staffed 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. At this time, there are fifteen full-time dispatchers and two part-time dispatchers. We would urge all citizens to honor the dispatchers and recognize them for their diligence and professionalism in helping to keep our county, its citizens, employees and visitors safe.

Thank you for all you do!

Michele Bell

Public Information Officer