NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCHER WEEK – April12th-18th, 2020
In 1991 Congress proclaimed the second week of April as National Public Safety Dispatcher Week to honor and recognize the men and women who serve as the first “first responders” when you need help.
Whether you need police, fire or medical personnel, when you call 9-1-1, a dispatcher answers your call for help by gathering vital information to instruct the appropriate agency on the nature of your emergency. The Dispatchers of the LaPorte County Regional Dispatch Center are certified to give pre-arrival instructions to the caller in medical emergencies; trained on what questions to ask the caller during police emergencies as well as provide instruction to victims of fire emergencies.
The LaPorte County Dispatchers have been honored to have proclamations signed by the Governor of Indiana, The LaPorte County Commissioners and the Mayor of LaPorte recognizing National Public Safety Dispatcher Week. Throughout the week, gifts of appreciation will be delivered by local businesses and individuals to express appreciation for the 30 LaPorte County Regional Dispatchers who work around the clock all year long to support police, firefighters and medics to help keep them and the public safe.
There were over 150,000 calls handled by LaPorte County 9-1-1 for the year 2019. The departments serviced are LaPorte County Sheriff, LaPorte City Police, Michigan City Police, LaPorte and Michigan City Fire, Westville Police, Kingsford Heights Police, Trail Creek Police, Kingsbury Police, all 16 Volunteer Fire Departments in the county, and LaPorte County Emergency Medical Service. Assistance is also provided to Long Beach Police and Indiana State Police when needed. The LaPorte County 9-1-1 Dispatchers also provide coordinating efforts to Med Flight, Lutheran Air, local utilities, Hazmat, the Red Cross and the Emergency Management Teams responding to emergencies in LaPorte County.
I request the honorable commissioners proclaim the week of April 12th-18th as 911 Dispatcher week for LaPorte County.
Thank you in advance for all of your support.
Director Steve Alt Assistant Director Wendy Perkins