DAPHNE – Police dispatchers play a major role in emergency services and should be recognized as first responders, the same as patrol officers and firefighters, Daphne city officials said Monday, Aug. 2.
The Daphne City Council voted to approve a resolution recognizing city telecommunications personnel. Mayor Robin LeJeune said that until now, dispatchers have been listed as administrative personnel, but should be recognized for their role as first responders.
“This resolution was to acknowledge that our dispatchers, our telecommunication personnel for the police department would be designated as first responders,” LeJeune said. “They work the same shifts as our police officers and corrections officers. They work the 24-hour shifts. They’re the lifeline for our police officers and when people call in with emergencies, it’s a very high stress job and they are not designated as first responders. They’re designated as admin personnel and they are more than admin personnel. I’ll tell you that because when you call 911, that’s who you’re talking to and when our officers are involved in anything that’s going on, that’s who their communicating through and so it is a disservice to them to them to be called admin”
In addition to listing Daphne telecommunications employees as first-responders, the council resolution stated that the city supports passage of the 911 Saves Act now being considered in the U.S. Congress. The bill would require that public safety communicators be listed as a public service classification on a national level.
Christina Brazell, Daphne chief communications officer, thanked the council for their recognition.
“On behalf of the communication division of the Daphne Police Department we would like to thank the mayor, City Council, as well as our command staff for the continuous support and immediate response,” she said. “This is the first step toward the movement needed for the appropriate recognition as well as job classification for telecommunications officers statewide and federally.”
The resolution stated that dispatchers must have specialized training and skills to receive information and make split-second decisions during emergency calls. The personnel also work in a stress-filled environment as the first people called in an emergency and often face the danger of post-traumatic stress disorder and other conditions.
