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1st 911 Basic Telecommunicator Class
The E-911 Office is proud to announce the completion of its first Basic Telecommunicator 16 hr course for the BJ Skelton Career Center. Seniors from surrounding Pickens County High schools participated in the three week course. They were introduced to the history of 911, heard true 911 calls, participated in emergency scenarios, and learned the importance of telecommunications in public safety. The students had two quizzes, class projects, practical situations, and a final exam. After the 3 week class students with an 80% or better average received a 16 hr Basic Telecommunicator certification. We are proud to say, we had a 100% certification for both the Law Enforcement Class and the Fire and EMS Class, and were able to certify 21 students. This program was so successful that we hope to have it available for years to come.
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Public Safety Telecommunicators
Each year, the second full week of April is dedicated to the men and women who serve as public safety telecommunicators. It was first conceived in 1981 and was observed only by one agency for three years. Chapter members of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) became involved in the mid-1980s, and by the early 1990s, the national APCO organization approached Congress about the need for a formal proclamation. Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) introduced what became H.J. Res. 284 to create "National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week." According to Congressional procedure, it was introduced twice more in 1993 and 1994, and then became permanent, without the need for yearly introduction. Here in Pickens County we are truly blessed to have some of the most dedicated communication specialist anywhere. These men and women do so much more for this county than just answer a phone. They are truly the unsung heroes of public safety. They are expected to multi-task every aspect of their jobs. They have to ask questions of citizens in highly stressful situations, obtain that information correctly, pass it on to other communication specialist, try and answer another call, and listen to an officer on the radio call out a traffic stop or disturbance. That is just the beginning of their shift. After the ups and downs of their 10 or 12 hour shift they go home with no thanks, only to return the next shift for the same scenarios. They are considered whiners if they vent, they are hard if they don’t talk about it, and if they let things affect them they give into stress. Because of all their hard work and dedication we want to recognize their dedication, making sure that these “unsung heroes” know how much we appreciate all their efforts
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Clemson University - Charles Mulwee |
Easley Police Department
Dottie Rhodes and Larry Waters |
Easley Police Department
Michael Ambrose |
Pickens County Sheriff's Office
Kayse Sutherland (front) and Rhonda Whitaker (background) |
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