unseen first responders

April 10, 2023

El Paso, Texas – The El Paso County Sheriff's Office Celebrates and Recognizes "National Correctional Officers Week." Each year. The second full week of April is dedicated to the men and women serving as public safety telecommunicators. This crucial role is filled by telecommunicators and dispatchers, who utilize telephones, radios, computers, and technical skills to support law enforcement and fire services throughout the city and County.

Today El Paso County Commissioners Court approved and adopted a resolution designating April 9th through the 15th as "Public Safety Telecommunicators Week." The 911 operators, dispatchers, and other Communication Specialists are dedicated to saving lives; these professionals are the "unseen first responders."

The El Paso County Sheriff's Communications Section is a 24-hr, seven days weekly operation. It provides radio communications and computer-aided dispatch to units in the field. It responds to inquiries from officers in the area regarding wanted and missing individuals and verifying stolen property. In addition to Sheriff's units, Communications also provides these services to other law enforcement agencies, fire departments in the County, and the Medical Examiner's Office. As can be seen, their functions are indispensable to the safety and welfare of citizens throughout the County. In honor of these hard-working individuals, Commissioners Court approved and adopted a resolution designating April 9th through the 15th as "Public Safety Telecommunicators Week." The 911 operators, dispatchers, and other Communication Specialists are dedicated to saving lives; these professionals are the "unseen first responders."