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RBC | For communication centers in the United States, one opportunity for recognition is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. It’s the second week of April every year and became law on March 26, 1992, by an act of Congress. In doing so, Congress acknowledged that we “daily serve the public in countless ways without due recognition by the beneficiaries of their services.”
The Meeker dispatch center is made up of five full time dispatchers Nichole Becker, Susan Shelton, Bobbie Schmidt, Emma Vaughn, Rhawnie McGruder and Communications Supervisor Mike Cook. Working primarily one dispatcher per twelve hour shift to answer phone calls and radio traffic for the Rio Blanco County deputies, Meeker Police Department and Meeker Fire and Rescue. In 2018 the center answered 24,995 phone calls, 6,212 911 calls and created 7,564 calls for service.
“Our community is fortunate to have people who are committed to helping others in their worst times, they work nights and weekends, holidays and birthdays,” stated Mike Cook, “they are here 24/7 ready to serve the public and I am here to say ‘thank you’ to all of them”.
Rio Blanco County Communication Center takes pride in making sure that the personnel we dispatch for and our community are safe. Using professionalism, promptness and customer service. Our entire Sheriff’s Office always strives in giving 100% and moving forward to better serve our community.
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is sponsored by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and celebrated annually, honors the thousands of men and women who respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance to the nation’s citizens.
Special to the Herald Times
