ISP Celebrates Safety Telecommunicators in Idaho

MERIDIAN, Idaho (News Release) – The Idaho State Police is celebrating the dedication of its Public Safety Communications Officers during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April  10-16, at its two Regional Communications Centers.

“This is one of our favorite weeks of the year, as it is an opportunity to thank our colleagues in dispatch for their dedication in serving the public, said ISP Statewide Communications Lt. Kevin Haight. “Without our dispatchers, ISP would not be able to provide the level of service we provide.”

The celebration also recognizes the technicians that maintain radio and emergency phone systems, communications staff trainers, communications center personnel and other public safety telecommunications staff across the country who also work tirelessly behind the scenes to help the public during emergencies.

The Idaho State Police's two regional communications centers provide service to all of Idaho and a lifeline to its officers working alone in the rural parts of the state with backup often an hour or more away. Together, the two centers handled 222,482 calls for service in fiscal year 2015.

The Regional Communications Center North is located in Coeur d'Alene, currently employs 13 communications officers responsible for ISP's two northern districts that include 10 counties and 6,211 road miles.

The center is located in Meridian, currently employs 26 communications officers responsible for the four districts in the central and southern parts of the state. These districts include 34 counties south of Adams, Valley, Custer and Lemhi counties and the 20,956 road miles in those counties.

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week started in 1981 by just one agency in California. The idea spread across the nation until Congress first gave it national recognition in 1991. Since then it has been celebrated the second full week in April every year.

Idaho's Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter issued a proclamation April 10 recognizing Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Idaho in honor of all city, county and state public safety communications professionals whose diligence and professionalism keeps our state and its citizens safe.