Commissioners took time to recognize the excellent work performed by the Emergency Communications Department and shine light on the challenges they face each year.
Director of Emergency Communications Norman Spackman II opened the meeting, praising the department’s efforts while explaining the extensive training required to become a dispatcher.
“We take this time this week to recognize our dispatcher staff for the difficult job they do every day,” Spackman stated. “They do many tasks from answering 911 phone calls, dispatching police, fire and EMS, giving pre-arrival instructions for CPR, helping to deliver babies, answering non-emergency lines and just helping residents navigate through difficult situations.”
Initial training to become a 911 dispatcher in Centre County takes about six months to complete, which includes classroom training, working with a trainer one-on-one, multiple certifications and further daily training. This all happens before a dispatcher works on their own. Once on their own, there is an additional six months of training.
“They do amazing work every day and have dealt with storms, football weekends, special events, overnight activities downtown and just college activities, which can turn a normal day into chaos quickly,” Spackman continued. “Centre County is very fortunate to have a great group of dispatchers working here. They take great pride in their jobs and work many long hours providing the service needed to the community. “
Assistant director of Emergency Communications, Rayme Weidel, provided statistics from last year regarding 911 calls.
“Last year, the dispatch staff worked a total of 9,220 of overtime. Four of those dispatchers worked over 950 hours of overtime each and one dispatcher had over 1000 hours of overtime,” she said.
“During the year, they answered 130,981 phone calls and handled 136,498 incidents. Two of our dispatchers received life saver pins for giving CPR instructions that saved a life. Two other dispatchers assisted with the delivery of babies. And we had one dispatcher that received the Centre County Non-Law Enforcement of the year award.”
Commissioner Amber Concepcion also offered praises at the meeting.
“This is one of those county departments that runs 24/7 doing lifesaving work and the people who fill these roles have, what’s clearly, a very stressful job but also very rewarding in terms of the impact they’re able to make for residents and visitors to Centre County.”
Commissioner Steven Dershem brought up at the meeting how 911 dispatchers are not considered emergency responders despite the critical service they provide throughout the county.
“That needs to change. If there were ever folks that need to be recognized as first responders and emergency responders, I think you deserve that recognition and the privileges and rights that holds. I think we need to make a concerted effort to contact our legislators to make sure that we give you folks that moniker. I think it’s important.”
Those interested in a career with Emergency Communications may go to the Centre County website at centrecountypa.gov/ to apply.
