Annual Week of Recognition Begins Sunday

The nation’s public safety organizations have issued statements of dispatcher praise ahead of National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, which begins this Sunday. The second full week of April celebration was first conceived by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County (Calif.) Sheriff’s Office in 1981, and after Congressional acceptance in the early 1990s, it became a permanent observance. View the text of the first Congressional proclamation declaring the special week, and read the APCO Web page about the week.

Communities Nationally Thank Local 9-1-1 Workers

National Public Safety Telecommunications Week is April 8-14, 2012; citizens plan ways to share gratitude with public safety workers

Daytona Beach, FL—April 4, 2012— Communities across the U.S. will recognize those who help save lives in times of personal or national crisis during National Public Safety Telecommunications Week (NPSTW), April 8-14, 2012.

NPSTW gives Americans the opportunity to thank 9-1-1 calltakers, dispatchers, technicians that maintain radio and emergency phone systems, communications staff trainers, supervisors and managers of communications centers, and other telecommunications staff across the country who work hard everyday to protect our communities.

“This is a small way each year where citizens should thank their local and national public safety telecommunicators, the public’s first contacts during emergencies, for performing mission critical tasks behind the scenes supporting police, fire and emergency medical personnel on the street,” said Gregory Riddle, president of APCO International.

The general public can honor their calltakers and dispatchers by participating in local celebrations or sending thank you notes to their agency. The Association of Public Safety Officials International (APCO) has established a National Public Safety Telecommunications Week blog where agencies can share celebration ideas along with photo and video of this year’s festivities. Citizens can share thoughts of gratitude or other stories on the blog as well.

National Public Safety Telecommunications Week was established by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County (Calif.) Sheriff’s Office in 1981 to raise awareness of the hard work and dedication of telecommunicators who provide a vital link to the public safety services on which Americans rely every day.