Local telecommunicators honored last week

By Kathy Thomson

Communities across the country recognize those who help save lives in times of personal or national crisis during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, held April 12-18.

Shackelford County sheriff Ed Miller said that the work done by telecommunicators is very important, not only for those dialing 9-1-1, but also for him and other first responders.

“They’re the first person contacted by those calling in for help, and they are our life-line when we are on a call,” the sheriff said, “We depend on them.”

There are new voices answering many of the phone calls this year. 

“We have a lot of new people who are still in training, and they are doing a wonderful job,” Miller said. “They’ve jumped in with both feet.”

Shackelford County Law Enforcement Center dispatch supervisor Felicity Coronado commended local 9-1-1 telecommunicators Misty Stevens, Melynda Flourney, Shaylynn Browning, and Kelsey Churchill for their efforts. 

“It’s a fast paced job, and they are excellent at it, each and every one of them,” said Coronado. “During this week, we try and take time to show appreciation for them, the typically unseen first of the first responders.”

Local dispatchers work rotating schedules of 12-, 10-, and six-hour shifts so someone is always on hand to man the phones, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year.

Texas Governor Greg  Abbott said that dispatchers think and respond rapidly and often creatively to reassure frightened, upset, and confused callers while at the same time maintaining the calm, professional, and disciplined demeanor that handling a 9-1-1 call requires.

County judge Robert Skelton said that is exactly how the local 9-1-1 dispatchers operate almost all of the time, based upon his experience.

“Public safety telecommunicators are the first and most critical contact our residents have with emergency services, and even though they are not as visible as the men and women who arrive at the scene of emergencies, they are just as important,” said Skelton. “Throughout this week, we honor and applaud the work of our telecommunications personnel.”

The West Texas Council of Governments provided a T-shirt, Germinix hand santitizer, and a telecommunicator challenge coin, which Coronado presented to the workers on Wednesday.