Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

April 11 through 17 is recognized as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and the Tennessee Emergency Communications Board as they seek to honor the thousands of men and women who respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance to Tennessee residents.

“Throughout all the crises Tennessee has faced over the past year, I encourage Tennesseans to use this time to celebrate and thank those who dedicate their lives to serving the public,” Gov. Bill Lee said when issuing a proclamation to commemorate the week. “Our dispatchers are always there to answer your call, providing service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.”

According to White County E-911 director, Suzi Cash Haston, dispatchers have long hours, often missing family gatherings, their children’s birthdays, church, and many other functions to serve their communities. 

“We must be fully staffed to take care of the needs of others 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” Haston said. “We are the very first responders.  We hear your pain your cries in the dark, your fright, your sadness, but most of all, we hear you.  We hear every word you say, every need you have, and sometimes we just hear you needing to be heard.”

TECB Executive Director Curtis Sutton said the organization partners with the state’s 100 communications districts to ensure Tennessee’s telecommunicators are among the best trained in the country.

“Our board recognizes the high-quality communications services provided by po-lice and fire dispatchers, 911 operators, and emergency medical technicians to help save lives in Tennessee,” Sutton said. “This week, we honor and commend Tennessee’s public safety telecommunicators for their professionalism and stead-fast commitment to protecting the lives and property of Tennesseans.”

White County’s E-911 Public Safety Telecommunicators, or dispatchers as they are commonly referred to, are responsible for the efficient response to emergency and non-emergency calls. That response includes, but is not limited to, receiving, processing, effectively prioritizing, and documenting all calls.

Haston said White County dispatchers process calls for service for all of the city’s and the county’s emergency response departments: emergency medical service; fire departments, both the city of Sparta and nine volunteer fire departments; rescue squad; and law enforcement as well as at times receiving non-emergency calls with individuals seeking information. She said her staff is responsible for getting information from the calls to the correct department to ensure help is provided for each caller. While, typically, information is relayed to one or more of the agencies by radio, she added that her staff often makes calls to relay sensitive information by phone so it is not broadcast or intercepted by anyone who is not in need of it.

“Our dispatchers at White County E-911 are all exceptional.  They have servant hearts and are here for White County and its citizens,” Haston said, while she also stated she encourages her dispatchers to follow Mark 12:31 (KJV), which says ‘Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.’ “We never want to lose sight that we are called to serve others.  Our focus is White County folks.”

Haston also said she is thankful to all of the businesses and individuals who gave prizes and gift bags to honor the county’s dispatchers during their appreciation week.