Honoring those who provide vital service to the county

There are thousands of emergency 911 calls made every day in Tennessee, and each call requires a professional that can respond calmly to the caller’s crisis. Whether it be a domestic dispute, a medical emergency, or a traffic crash, telecommunicators offer up an essential, yet often overlooked service. National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week attempts to rectify that, giving those who respond to calls a chance to be recognized for the work they do.

The week offers a time to celebrate and thank telecommunications personnel across the nation, and in Tennessee it is no different. On April 7, just a week before Telecommunicators Week, the Tennessee General Assembly voted to consider Public-Safety Telecommunicators are First Responders. This is a huge step in recognition toward their efforts, and Suzi Haston, director of the White County 911 Emergency Communications District, is pleased with the decision.

“I am very proud to say that our White County E-911 family has some of the very best,” Haston said. “Many have additional tasks such as addressing, NCIC, training, etc. on top of dispatching, and they never complain. They miss their own family gatherings, birthday parties, holidays with families, ballgames, and the list goes on. They give up their family time to protect your family in their time of need. They are dedicated, caring, and selfless. We are truly a family here at White County E-911. We also want to thank all the public safety agencies and our city and county leaders and offices, commissioners and aldermen.”

This year, Telecommunicators Week falls on April 13-19, and it has been a respected event for years. Its initial history began in Contra Costa, California, and it was organized by a staff that was rarely seen, only heard. In 1981, the telecommunicators, then called dispatchers, woked alongside the sheriff of the county to get recognition for their efforts. President Bill Clinton officialized the event, in 1994, when he declared the second week of April as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.