Mayor Joe Gibbons and City Council proclaimed April 9 to 15, 2023, to be National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Lenoir. Mayor Gibbons presented the proclamation to Police Chief Brent Phelps and City Telecommunicators last week.
Telecommunicators answer 9-1-1 calls and dispatch police, fire, and first responders to emergencies in the community. This week honors telecommunications personnel for their commitment, service, and sacrifice.
"These men and women are on the other end of a phone line when somebody calls with a crisis," Chief Phelps said. "They deal with a lot of stressful situations day in, day out. They work through those adrenaline phone calls, hang the call up, and then answer another, many times for 12 hours a day with limited breaks."
Last year, the City's Police Telecommunicators answered 60,486 total phone calls. Of those calls, 7,117 were 9-1-1 emergency calls, 11,439 were non-911 calls, and 19,247 were officer-initiated calls. Communications Center staff also processed 458 after-hours water and sewer service calls and 21 requests for translation services.
"They're behind the scenes, and when you think of law enforcement, many times dispatchers and telecommunicators don't get thought about on a regular basis by the public, but they are the first step to emergency response," Chief Phelps said. "If you could see the speed that they take those calls and key information into the system, it's very amazing. We don't tell them enough, but I want to thank them for the job they do every day."
PROCLAMATION In Recognition of Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 9 – 15, 2023
Whereas, the City of Lenoir Police Department Telecommunicators play a vital role in the protection of human life and property in our community; and
Whereas, Telecommunicators have been successfully serving the public safety communication needs of the City of Lenoir throughout the year; and
Whereas, while enduring long hours, abnormal schedules, and handling frequent life and death emergencies, Telecommunicators set high standards in performing their duties in a dedicated, diligent, and compassionate manner; and
Whereas, Telecommunicators provide a critical communication link between the residents and Emergency Responders; and
Whereas, these individuals efficiently coordinate emergency services to ensure the health and safety of our residents, visitors, and travelers in our community, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week; and
Whereas, our Public Safety Communications personnel serve the public daily in countless ways without due recognition by the beneficiaries of their services;
Therefore Be It Resolved, that I, Joseph L. Gibbons, Mayor of the City of Lenoir, and on behalf of the Lenoir City Council, do hereby proclaim and declare the week of April 9 – April 15, 2023 “National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week” in the City of Lenoir, in honor of the men and women whose diligence and professionalism keep our city and first responders safe.
Joseph L. Gibbons, Mayor
Mayor Joe Gibbons presented the National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week proclamation to Police Chief Brent Phelps and Telecommunicators Rhonda Hollowell, Kenny LaCourse, and Molly Ford Tuesday, April 4, 2023. Pictured from left: Police Support Services Captain Couby Stilwell, Mayor Pro Tem Crissy Thomas, Telecommunicator Rhonda Hollowell, City Manager Scott Hildebran, Chief Phelps, Councilman Ralph Prestwood, Mayor Gibbons, Councilman Kent Greer, Telecommunicator Kenny LaCourse, Councilman Ike Perkins, Telecommunicator Molly Ford, and Councilman Jonathan Beal.