THANK YOU DISPATCHERS!

Each year, the second full week of April is dedicated to the men and women who serve as public safety telecommunicators.   Like other emergency service workers, they frequently give up Christmas mornings, birthday parties and family functions and instead choose to serve their community by answering emergency calls.

Our 9-1-1 dispatchers are responsible for handling all 9-1-1 emergency calls generated in Cowlitz County. Many people are not aware that they also handle the receipt, disposition, and the documentation of telephone and radio calls in both routine and emergency matters for Law Enforcement and Fire Services. These are busy people!

The Cowlitz County 9-1-1 Communications Center is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is the responsibility of the dispatcher to accurately, and quickly, identify the nature of your call and assist in solving the problem.

Of course, you don't need a special week to honor your public safety dispatchers for excellence! You can write them a commendation, mention their "good job" at a shift briefing, or just give them a pat on the back.