City of Melbourne to Recognize 911 Communications Officers During National Public Safety Week
By Space Coast Daily // April 5, 2023
PUBLIC SERVICE SPOTLIGHT
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is held during the second week of April each year to recognize the critical role 911 communications officers play in keeping our community safe.
From April 9 to April 15, the City of Melbourne will be joining with communities across the nation to celebrate and honor the dedicated men and women who respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance.
When an emergency occurs, the first access point for those seeking help is most often 911. Melbourne’s Communications officers receive, classify and prioritize calls from the public and dispatch calls that require police or fire rescue response. They handled 165,318 of these calls in 2022.
In addition to managing a tremendous number of calls, Melbourne’s communications officers often help de-escalate volatile situations and help police officers and detectives prevent and solve crimes.
They also monitor the activities of police officers and firefighters by radio to provide them with useful information and help ensure their safety.
“I am extremely proud of our Communications officers for their dedication and professionalism. Our Communications officers have been doing extraordinary work while short-staffed, yet they continue to be the backbone of our patrol operations,” said Melbourne Police Chief David Gillespie.
“Their alertness, enthusiasm, and attention to detail keep our officers safe. We are fortunate to have such dedicated employees who care so much about serving our officers and community alike.”
During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week we encourage residents to learn more about these behind-the-scenes heroes and to send messages of thanks and support to them via the Melbourne Police Department Facebook page (@MelbourneFLPolice) or by emailing police@mlbfl.org.
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