Police dispatchers being honored this week

This week is being set aside to honor the work of police dispatchers.

A dispatcher's responsibilities include taking the caller's information and pertinent details regarding the request, as well as paging and dispatching ambulances, first responders, fire department and law enforcement.  The dispatcher is also responsible for running computerized record checks and managing information during a call.  The dispatcher is also the person who may be giving CPR or other first aid instructions over the phone, while continuing to manage all of the other responsibilities, including answering phone calls that continue to come in and attending to walk-in business.  In many cases the dispatcher is doing all of these things at one time and under very stressful conditions.

Dispatchers also manage many functions during severe weather events, such as monitoring National Weather Service bulletins, making area notifications, activation of emergency sirens and fielding telephone inquiries. 

Dispatching has seen the introduction of many advanced computer applications and more are yet to come.  While this technology is necessary and ideally improves efficiency and capability, it also represents new systems to be managed, which adds to the complexity of the dispatcher's job.

Said Decorah Police Chief Bill Nixon, "I would like to recognize and thank all of our dispatchers who are the lifeline to so many essential services for the residents of Winneshiek County.  The law enforcement officers, firefighters and paramedics are the recognizable faces of your public safety system, but it is the often anonymous dispatcher that ties all of these resources together and coordinates the response you need.  If you have the opportunity, please thank these women and men who contribute tremendously to the quality of life we all enjoy here."