State Patrol to honor police communications operators during National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, April 14-20

April 10, 2013

During National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, April 14-20, the Wisconsin State Patrol will acknowledge and honor its police communications operators, who dispatch officers and coordinate responses to traffic crashes and other emergencies.

Congress has designated National Public Safety Telecommunications Week as a time to recognize men and women who are responsible for answering calls "for police, fire and emergency medical assistance and dispatching such assistance to help save the lives and property of our citizens."

The State Patrol has 58 police communications operator and supervisor positions stationed at regional communications centers in DeForest, Tomah, Waukesha, Fond du Lac, Wausau, Eau Claire and Spooner.

State Patrol Superintendent Stephen Fitzgerald says, "Our police communications operators are highly trained professionals, who use advanced communications technology to exchange information with our officers on patrol. This information exchange is essential for effective enforcement actions and responses to complex emergencies. This communications link also is vital for the safety of our officers. In life or death situations, like traffic crashes, police communications operators use their knowledge and experience to make quick decisions under stressful conditions. They also must handle numerous inquiries from the public and the news media. Although our police communications operators work behind the scenes, their efforts have helped save lives and prevent injuries throughout our state."

Note to news media: You are welcome to tour a State Patrol communications center and watch our police communications operators in action. Interviews can be scheduled. For more information, contact a State Patrol post listed on the WisDOT web site.

For more information, contact:
State Patrol Lieutenant Tim Huibregtse, Wisconsin DOT
(office) (414) 227-2152; (cell) (414) 750-3936; (e-mail) timothy.huibregtse@dot.wi.gov