CONCORD — Police Chief Joseph O’Connor, Fire Chief Tom Judge and the Concord Police and Fire Departments would like to recognize the town’s public safety dispatchers during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
During the week of April 12-18, public safety agencies take time to reflect on the critical role telecommunications professionals play in supporting the work of first responders. This week honors the thousands of men and women across the country who respond to emergency calls, dispatch first responders and equipment and render life-saving assistance to residents.
“The work our police officers and firefighters do every day to serve the community would not be possible without the support of our emergency communications staff,” Chief O’Connor said. “We’re grateful for their commitment to our residents and for the vital work they do day in and day out to keep first responders and the community safe.”
Concord’s eight communications professionals are specially trained to handle thousands of calls for service every year. While their work is done outside of the view of the public, they are an essential resource for first responders and the public alike and serve as the first point of contact for members of the public seeking help in an emergency.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, dispatchers are on the front lines with first responders ensuring that they have all the information needed to safely respond to calls for service. Concord dispatchers fielded approximately 38,000 calls for service in 2019.
About APCO International
APCO International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association, and it sponsors National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week each year.
It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide – and the welfare of the general public as a whole – by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach.
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