The CAPCOG Executive Committee honored the region’s emergency telecommunicators with a March proclamation declaring April 12 through April 18 as National Public Safety Telecommunicator week. “Telecommunicators are the true backbone of the 9-1-1 system,” and “CAPCOG recognizes the professional and unending services of the telecommunicators who answer 9-1-1 calls on a daily basis,” the proclamation read.
“Being an emergency telecommunicator is a very tough and thankless job,” said Lisa Ybarra, CAPCOG 9-1-1 operation coordinator. “Our region’s telecommunicators make sacrifices to create a better and safer world for the public. They work nights, weekends, holidays, and often mandatory overtime to protect residents and officers 24-7. This week should be set aside so everyone can be made aware of their dedication to our safety.”
More than 800 local emergency telecommunicators answer nearly 2 million calls annually for the region; each is dedicated to serving the public in times of personal and public crises and help protect their fellow first responders. CAPCOG and its Executive Committee encourage all jurisdictions and residents in the ten-county region to recognize their emergency telecommunicators. CAPCOG, serving as the Capital Area Emergency Communication District, also will present each telecommunicator with a gift for their service which will be delivered to public safety answering points, or 9-1-1 call centers, at later date.
