Cody Coggle of Valley Emergency Communications Center was named Dispatcher of the Year by Utah APCO at its annual awards ceremony.

Utah celebrated their heroes during National Public Safety Telecommunications Week — and what a celebration it was! Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed a declaration announcing that this second week in April will be recognized as Telecommunications Week. The declaration was announced and read during Utah APCO’s Awards Banquet. It was noted that what some telecommunicators experience in a shift, many people don’t experience in a lifetime. Telecommunicators are deserving of more than just a day, they deserve a week for all that they do! Over 80 dispatchers were present to applaud their peers that were recognized as Utah’s Dispatcher, Supervisor, Trainer, and Administrator of the Year.

As the week progressed, centers from around the state took the opportunity to celebrate in creative and fun ways.

Valley Emergency Communications Center
Salt Lake Valley Emergency Communications Center (VECC) had daily themes in which food, treats and motivational quotes decorated the employees lockers. Twelve of VECC’s Fire Chief’s stopped by to cook and serve a BBQ lunch, while mid-week employees were encouraged to “Walk on the Wild Side” by wearing something wild and enjoying a spaghetti dinner. The week ended with a VECC sponsored Easter Egg Hunt where employees could bring their families to hunt eggs, play games and jump in bounce houses.

Fun at the Davis County Sheriff's Office.

Davis County Sheriff’s Office
Davis County Sheriff’s Office kicked off its celebration by starting a Dispatch Bingo Card that was valid throughout the week. Each day, cookies and other treats were delivered. The agency’s PIO started Facebook entries (www.facebook.com/#!/DavisCountySheriffsOffice) and arranged for the Standard Examiner to come in, visit and write a story on their dispatch center. The story, “Davis County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center celebrates National Dispatchers Week,” can be seen online at http://www.standard.net/topics/utah/2011/04/14/davis-county-sheriffs-dispatch-center-celebrates-national-dispatchers-week.

Also, employees were presented with a “Behind the Scenes Hero” badge and a mouse pad with pictures of their families and friends. Davis County was also able to shed their uniforms for “Crazy Hat Day” and “I LOVE the 80’s Day.”

Layton City Communications Stars

Layton City Communications
Layton City Communications made sure everyone knew who the real stars of the agency are. Planners created a billboard designating each telecommunicator as the start of their own movie, complete with customized titles and descriptions recognizing everyone for their individual contributions.

Unified Police Department of Greater Salt Lake
Unified Police Department telecommunicators were treated with pizza from the officer’s and dessert by their command staff. They enjoyed daily dress-down themes, such as Sweats and Sneaker Day, Biker Day, Rapper Day and a Western Day, in lieu of uniforms. On Friday, they were treated to a BBQ. Prizes were drawn and given away all week, with a final grand prize being presented at the end of the week.

Valley Emergency Communications Center

Utah Valley Special Services District
Utah Valley Special Services District kept the momentum going by starting out the week with a gift of a lunch tote and t-shirt for all its telecommunicators. Pizza, cake and ice cream kept everybody well fed along, and hats and slippers were part of the week’s attire. Hourly giveaways relating to the types of calls they took, kept the employees busy. They were treated with candy, scented candles, water bottles and other small gifts.

It’s been said that not everyone can do the job of a telecommunicator. Officers and firefighters will often say they could never do this job, and it’s true. It takes a special person to be the voice on the other side of the phone, the radio and in the middle of the night, and that is why we celebrate all of you. Thank you for being the heroes that you are and for all that you do!

About the Author
Georggina “Gigi” Smith is police operations manager for the Salt Lake Valley Emergency Communications Center and a western region representative to the APCO International Board of Directors.