Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear headsets.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is celebrating April 10-16 as National Public Safety Telecommunications Appreciation Week. It is a time when we thank our telecommunications personnel who serve our citizens and public safety agencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Polk County has ten full-time telecommunicators who serve Polk County and surrounding areas, fielding more than 32,000 calls annually. Their work isn’t seen by many people aside from public safety personnel; however, they play a vital role in keeping our communities safe.
Polk County Telecommunicator Supervisor Nancy Shafer said, “Today’s Telecommunicators operate a lot differently than they did in the past” “We have to think faster, work harder, all while remaining calm while there is chaos around us.” She is proud of the team. Many of them have stayed in this profession for long careers. “Not everyone is cut out to be a telecommunicator,” she said. “We hear everything from a road report to a serious life-threatening medical call.”
Polk County Sheriff Jim Tadman stated, “It takes a special person to do this job. Answering the critical incident life-threatening call takes a toll on you”. “They listen to everyone’s worst day and provide calm, clear direction until help arrives. They are a lifeline for our residents in need and vital for our Law Enforcement, Fire, EMS. Our telecommunicators come from many different fields and many different backgrounds. One thing they have in common is they have hearts of gold”.
This week, we thank our telecommunications personnel and recognize them for the heroes they are.
Please join us in thanking our dedicated team of telecommunicators and recognizing the service and commitment of telecommunications professionals throughout the nation.
