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SPD celebrates National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

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They are the ones who will answer the line when a caller is in crisis. Every day and every step of the way, through some of the toughest times in a caller’s life, a public safety telecommunicators will remain on the line to help and assist. 

The Sheridan Police Department would like to remind residents of National Telecommunicators Week.

Reserved for the week of April 11 -17, National Telecommunicators Week brings celebration, honor, and publicity focused on the people on the other end of the line for all 911 and regular calls for service. It’s a great opportunity to reflect on the important role of the 911 dispatcher, according to the SPD. 

Each year, the second full week of April is dedicated to the men and women who serve as public safety telecommunicators. National Telecommunicators Week was first adopted by congress in 1991.

In a statement, the Sheridan Police Department said it is proud to recognize the men and women serving the County and City of Sheridan on the communications team. Those communications officers are Cynthia Shepherd-Godwin, Dominic Cote, Kellen Phillips, Dan Johnson, Becca Hartman, Erin Bryngelson, Kevin Valentine, Cheryl Britain-Hahne and Shelby Pippin. Kat Hersman and Sarah Benavidez of the Administrative Bureau are also fully trained communications officers and fill in when called upon.

Communications officer Shelby Pippin told listeners of Sheridan’s Public Pulse why she worked so hard to get the position approximately seven months ago. 

Communications officer S. Pippin

According to the statement, SPD patrol officers are also trained as call takers. Call takers are able to assist communications officers in times of high call volume and personnel shortages. 

The Communications Officers:

  • Answer all 911 calls
  • Answer all calls to the Sheridan Police Department and all after hour calls to the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office
  • Dispatch for the Sheridan Police Department, the Sheridan County Sheriff’s Office, Rocky Mountain Ambulance, The Sheridan Fire Department as well as the seven Sheridan County rural fire districts
  • Dispatch City services in times of emergency
  • Are trained in crisis intervention
  • Are fully trained in emergency medical dispatch protocol

In the statement, SPD Chief Travis Koltiska and the command staff of the Sheridan Police Department thanked all of the communications officers for their fantastic performance and dedication to the community.

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