From Left to right front row: Hillory Wichman, Jennee Nixon, Amy Rasmussen, Annette Clark, Joanie Huska, Emily McEvoy From left to right back row: Nancy Ray, Lori Borders, Amanda Hughes, Laurie Sutton, Charlene Holbrook Not pictured: Michaela Thompson and Laura Claffey

The Post Falls Police Department will celebrate National Public Safety Telecommunications Week on April 10-16 to honor their Emergency Communications Officers (ECO’s) who work behind the scenes to answer calls for help every day.  Post Falls has some of the best-trained Telecommunications Officers.  The citizens and visitors are the beneficiaries of their outstanding service.  Each year, the second week of April is dedicated to the men and women who serve as Telecommunications Officers.  In October 1991, Congress made a formal proclamation to recognize this week as National Telecommunicators Week. Mayor Larkin and the Post Falls City Council have also written a proclamation to recognize our ECO’s.

The ECO’s are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.  They work holidays and miss special occasions with their families to protect the lives of those needing assistance and provide necessary information to the officers dispatched to the calls. These ECO’s have saved lives, reduced the potential for increased injuries, and have eased suffering through their direct interventions.

The ECO’s are rarely seen. They are the voices who answer, “911, where is your emergency?” They are there when you call for help in the middle of the night.  They are, in effect, the first responders. They determine what kind of aid is needed and send assistance to those in need.   Many times they instruct you on how to do CPR, render first-aid, or even deliver a baby. They ask questions about the situation and the risk factors officers might face when arriving, such as are there any weapons, the location of the offender or victim, and other pertinent questions for the safety of everyone involved.  They are the police officers lifeline when they are on patrol, and they can direct the fire units to the exact location of a fire or accident. They answer hundreds of questions and provide information to locate businesses and roads.

Join me in thanking these dedicated professionals for their hard work, dedication, ability to remain calm while multi-tasking, providing clear and concise dispatch information to responding units, and taking care of requests in a timely manner.  Thank you for all that you do every day, you are truly appreciated.

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