Subject
title
Proclamation Declaring April 13-19, 2025, As National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Rockville, Maryland (CM Jackson)
end
Department
Police
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council read and approve the proclamation and present it to Rockville City Police Department Communications personnel.
Discussion
The week of April 13-19, 2025, is recognized as “National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week,” also known as Recognition for 911 and Police Communication Dispatchers. Nationally, this week-long event honors telecommunications personnel in the public safety community.
The week recognizes professionals in the law enforcement area who don’t often get recognition or appreciation, as much of their work is done quietly behind the scenes. They are often forgotten until a time of need in an emergency.
Utilizing telephones, cell phones, radio systems, and computer systems, dispatchers provide a crucial and important link between law enforcement, EMS, Fire professionals, and citizens on a daily basis. The Rockville City Police Department utilizes seven dispatchers who cover the Communications Center 24-hours a day, seven days a week, answering all calls for service within the City of Rockville. The Communications Center works closely with other City departments, including Public Works, the Water Treatment Plant, various City facilities, as well as the Montgomery County Police Department, Montgomery County Animal Control, and the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department. The Rockville City Police Department Communication Center handled over 64,796 calls in the city in 2024.
The job of a police communication operator/dispatcher is very busy and can be stressful at times. These professionals, who gather essential information from callers and who dispatch the appropriate first responders to the scene, must be able to take control of situations that may be chaotic, heart-wrenching, stressful, confusing, and frenzied. Dispatchers must be organized, adept at multi-tasking, level-headed, and trustworthy. Their work within emergency response services often places them in the middle of life-or-death situations, so continuous training is a major function of the job.
The Rockville City Police Department is proud of the work that our dispatchers do and would like to recognize and honor them during this important week.
Mayor and Council History
The Mayor and Council read and present this proclamation annually.