Week marked to celebrate emergency dispatchers who help keep public safe

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The annual weeklong celebration of our nations police/fire/Emergency Medical Services dispatchers is this week (April 12-18). 

This is a time to thank those who dedicate their lives to serving the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Typically during the week, special events are held across the nation so U.S. citizens can learn about dispatchers’ hard work and dedication. With the pandemic upon us, many of those events cannot be held.

Initially conceived in 1981 by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa, California, County Sheriff’s Office, Telecommunicators Week was created to raise public awareness of the hard work and dedication of public safety telecommunicators. In October 1991, APCO International successfully lobbied and received a formal proclamation by Congress, which was later signed by President Bill Clinton, designating the second full week in April as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

“This year, to honor the women and men who work tirelessly in the dispatch centers serving all the people of across Tippecanoe County during this time of social distancing, please take moment to send an email, card or post something on social media thanking those who answer the public’s calls for help around the clock,” Purdue University police Chief John Cox said. “Your kind words make all the difference to these public servants who are always just a phone call away when help is needed.”

Media contact: Jim Bush, jsbush@purdue.edu

Source: John Cox, 765-494-8221, jkcox@purdue.edu