Commissioners honor dispatchers

Lorain County commissioners are recognizing the work of dispatchers who answer the call for those in crisis.

On April 7, the commissioners declared with a proclamation April 11-17 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

The recognition of dispatchers first began in 1981 in California by the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department.

Commissioner Michelle Hung said Lorain County dispatchers deserve praise for their tireless efforts in keeping residents safe.

“Thank you to our dispatchers who perform a highly important job in public service,” Hung said. “And whereas, a dispatcher is generally the first point of contact the true first responder, and the unseen hero.

“A dispatcher’s job is a complicated one, is exciting, rewarding fulfilling and becomes a way of life.”

Lorain County 911 Director Harry Williamson echoed Hung and said Lorain County dispatchers and around the country speak the same language with a common pool of experiences to draw on in helping save lives.

Williamson said the dispatchers are heroes as the comforting voices responding to emergencies.

“Dispatchers are a unique breed,” he said. “They’re fierce fiercely independent, and they’re mission focused, but they make one heck of a team.

“They show up, rain, shine, fires, natural disaster, shootings, you name it. They’re there. They go from call to call switching up their style, questioning like a person with multiple personalities.

“That chosen profession is truly something to behold.”

Commissioner Matt Lundy said the critical role that dispatchers play in public safety.

Only 25 percent of prospective dispatchers successfully complete training, underscoring the skill and discipline required to remain calm under pressure, Lundy said.

A former television reporter, Lundy reflected on the countless numbers of 911 recordings he has listened to over the years in understanding the important work dispatchers do.

“I’ve listened to a lot of 911 tapes over the years, and it is amazing what dispatchers do,” he said. “The public, generally when they see a news story, they see what happens in front of them or they hear about the victims or the police or the fire.

“But rarely do they ever get to talk with a dispatcher or hear that calming voice that’s going on behind the scenes, which really makes a big difference. And I just can’t say enough good things about the work they do.”

Lundy and Commissioner David J. Moore encouraged the public to consider applying to become a dispatcher as a career option that can open doors in multiple areas.

“...But rarely do they ever get to talk with a dispatcher or hear that calming voice that’s going on behind the scenes, which really makes a big difference. And I just can’t say enough good things about the work they do.” — Commissioner Matt Lundy