Missouri & Arkansas – Every year, for one week in April, the public celebrates the people hidden behind the headset performing public services, the people who respond to the public’s emergency calls and dispatch law enforcement officers in times of crisis. Telecommunicators work around the clock to help the public in times of emergencies.
This week was introduced in 1981 by Patricia Anderson, a woman who worked for the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office in California. It officially became nationally celebrated as National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week in 1994 after the H.J. Res 284 was passed through Congress. According to a post from the Howell County Sheriff’s Office’s social media page, they currently have 5 individuals working around the clock to help keep the public and the officers safe. The public safety telecommunications team for the Howell County Sheriff’s Department is featured below.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office also posted on their social media page shouting out to and thanking their hardworking team of individuals.
The Ozark County Sheriff’s Department gave a special shoutout to their team: Krista Crisp, Sarah Harris, Jessica Hockett, Devon Jarvis, and Kelli Smith.
West Plains Police Department made a post shouting out to their team as well.
Remember emergencies don’t take breaks and neither do they.
