April 10, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2009-21)
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
R. Steve Huffman
Public Information Officer
(251) 208-2857/Fax: (251) 208-2861
E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org
NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK
APRIL 12-18, 2009
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week kicks off nationwide Sunday, April 12 and lasts until Saturday, April 18. Mobile will kick off it’s ceremonies to honor it’s Public Safety Dispatchers on Monday, April 13 at 11:00 a.m. at the Mobile County Communications District or as it is commonly known as the 911 Center, located at 7340 Zeigler Boulevard (by the Greater Gulf State Fairgrounds) with speakers, food, building tours and a chance to meet our Behind the Scenes Hero’s. Public Officials and family members have been invited to help us celebrate the work these dispatchers do every day.
The 911 Center houses Public Safety Dispatchers from five agencies to include the 9-1-1 Call Takers, Mobile Fire-Rescue, Mobile Police, Mobile County Emergency Medical Services and Mobile County Sheriffs Office.
Each year, the second full week of April is dedicated to the men and women who serve as public safety telecommunicators. It was first conceived by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County (CA) Sheriff’s Office in 1981 and was observed only at that agency for three years. By the early 1990’s Congress, at the urging of the national Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO), made it a permanent annual proclamation. It is estimated there are over 200 thousand Public Safety Dispatchers nationwide taking 9-1-1 calls and dispatching units 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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