National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 14-20) Honors Silent Heroes Behind The Headsets
HENDERSON, Ky. (April 16, 2024) — Telecommunicators at Kentucky State Police Post 16 in Henderson will be recognized along with more than 200,000 of their fellow communicators nationwide April 14th – 20th during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
These silent heroes behind the headsets are more than just a voice on the other end of the line. They often save lives on a daily basis.
“KSP telecommunicators are challenged on a daily basis dealing with stressful situations. Many of these situations involve life and death in which they are expected to handle with compassion, empathy and professionalism,” says Captain Brenton Ford, Commander of KSP Post 16 in Henderson.
“They must be at their best while dealing with people who may be at their worst. People do not usually call for help when they are having their best day. By the nature of the business, they deal with people who have been victimized or in need of medical assistance.
“Telecommunicators provide a lifeline for the public as well as law enforcement and other emergency service professionals who rely on them for critical communications and information,” Ford adds.
KSP telecommunicators handle dispatch duties for Kentucky State Police troopers, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officers, Kentucky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Conservation officers and other emergency service agencies. Their duties include calling wrecker services, notifying channels of administration, running license plate, driver’s license numbers, criminal histories and notifying family members while continuing to answer new calls and handling other radio traffic. Most importantly, they are the calming voice on the other end of the line when someone calls 911 and is most likely having the worst day of their life.
KSP employs roughly 180 telecommunicators at 16 posts throughout the state. In 2023, they answered 508,000 requests for assistance. Post 16 employs seven telecommunicators who handle calls from a six county area. Last year, they responded to over 20,000 calls.
Post 16 Telecommunicators include: Supervisor Blake Smith of Owensboro; Shift Supervisor Matthew Estes of Evansville; Alexis McGee of Evansville; Sara Conway of Owensboro; Alexandra Shultz of Owensboro; Jennifer Glenn of Owensboro and Racheal Dean of Henderson.
For more information or to apply for a telecommunication position with KSP, log on to the state personnel website at www.personnel.ky.gov
The Kentucky State Police (KSP) is a law enforcement agency that prides itself on attracting the best individuals. KSP affords equal employment opportunity to all individuals, regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender or age.
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