This week is known as National Telecommunicators Week.  It’s a time to recognize all dispatchers and those who handle emergency and law enforcement calls.

The Greene County Law Enforcement Center in Jefferson currently has four full-time and five part-time dispatchers were 24-hours per day, seven days per week.

Shawn Olson has been a part-time dispatcher with the sheriff’s office for only six-months and he talks about why he became a telecommunicator.

“I didn’t know I was going to be a dispatcher, I thought I was going to be something else.  But, they (sheriff’s office) needed a dispatcher, so I decided to do that.  I’ve always wanted to be in law enforcement and this is a good start to it so I thought that’s why I do this first.”

A ten-year veteran, Lisa Seil works full-time as a dispatcher with the sheriff’s office.

She talks about one of the benefits of being a dispatcher.

“I like being able to help other people, I like making sure that everyone is okay, kind of like the Mother Hen-type of thing I guess.  I received calls when someone is hysterical and you have to change your demeanor back here (at the LEC) in order to relate to them.  To me that’s rewarding.”

However, one of the biggest challenges that also comes with being a dispatcher and a native of the county, Seil points out the calls that deal with children or suicide situations, especially if you know that person.

Telecommunicators are a vital part of to crisis situations for the public and law enforcement agencies and so make sure you knowledge those who help to run emergency communications both city and county-wide this week.