RCFD Media Release

**For Immediate Release**

Re: National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week 2019

From: Lt. Jim Bussell- Rapid City Fire Department

Office: (605)-394-4180

Jim.bussell@rcgov.org

Date: 04/15/2019

               

Rapid City, S.D. - The RCFD will be joining other local Public Safety Agencies in celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week April 14-20, 2019. The Rapid City Fire Department wishes to congratulate our Public Safety Telecommunicators and give them our profound thanks for the work that they do.

Fire and EMS personnel have unique, first-hand knowledge of the importance of the role that our 911 Dispatchers play in the business of saving lives and protecting our community. Most people in our community know little of the vital role that 9-1-1 Dispatchers play in ensuring the safety of Fire and EMS personnel. In addition, these professional men and women are the first-line in providing adequate and appropriate emergency response.

Dispatchers are critical first First Responders. They must keep track of multiple units, companies, and even entire departments during critical incidents. Sometimes this requires tracking multiple incidents spanning multiple communities and multiple counties. Their hard work and dedication is most certainly noticed and appreciated by our entire organization.

Our success in the initial stages of an incident depends largely on the information that they provide. It cannot be overstated that our Public Safety Telecommunicators are key contributors to ensuring that our Fire and EMS providers can work and function safely.  It is an honor to work with such an outstanding, professional group of individuals that help to form our Public Safety network.

On behalf of each member of the Rapid City Fire Department, thank you to each and every member of the Pennington County 9-1-1 for their hard work and dedication.

-END-