Nature of Incident: Dispatchers Recognized During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week
Location: Ventura County
Date & Time: April 13 – April 19, 2014
Unit(s) Responsible: Sheriff’s Communications Center (S.C.C.)
Narrative:
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is April 13 – 19, 2014, and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is honoring the public safety dispatchers who serve as the lifeline between people in need and vital law enforcement services. These public safety dispatchers dedicate their careers to providing superior service to people who have a need for law enforcement assistance. In many cases, the dispatcher can make the difference between life and death.
Each year, the public safety dispatchers and supervisors at the S.C.C handle more than 348,000 telephone calls, including 92,000 9-1-1 calls. Every day, hundreds of people depend on the skill, expertise and commitment of the dispatchers who work in public safety communications. These team members help save countless lives by handling emergency telephone calls, dispatching law enforcement resources, and providing moral support to people in distress.
Public safety dispatchers must undergo a rigorous testing and background process before being hired. After they have been hired, new dispatchers must attend the three-week Basic Dispatcher Course that is certified by the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.). Typically, their training also includes six additional weeks of classroom training and between 6 – 12 months of on-the-job training before the new dispatcher can work independently. Even then, almost 50% of the dispatchers hired are not able to successfully complete the training program, due to the challenging demands of the job.
Within the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, we are celebrating the valuable contributions that our public safety dispatchers make on a daily basis. We are incredibly fortunate to have such talented and dedicated professionals who work so hard to serve the public and deputies on the front lines. Please join us in recognizing them for doing such an exemplary job at fulfilling a critical role in public safety.
Prepared by: Erin M. Brockus, Interim Communications Manager
Media Release Date: April 13, 2014
Follow-Up Contact: Erin M. Brockus (805) 654-5158
Approved by: Captain Don Aguilar
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