Virginia Beach Emergency Communications & Citizen Services will celebrate National Public Safety Telecommunications Week from April 8 to 14. This national week of celebration was established by Congress in 1991 to recognize the dedicated men and women who provide invaluable public safety services to their communities.
In 2011, the city’s public safety emergency telecommunicators answered more than 230,000 calls on 911 and 461,000 public safety calls for service.
Too often the importance of public safety emergency telecommunicators goes unrecognized. In Virginia Beach, Emergency Communications & Citizen Services refer to these staff members as “the first of the first responders,” a true component of the Virginia Beach public safety response team.
Each year, members of Emergency Communications VB9-1-1 nominate, select and recognize co-workers for outstanding performance with annual awards. Recipients for the 2011 awards are:
- Call Taker – Carmen Van Voorhis
- Dispatcher – Lee Anne Storey
- Communications Training Officer – Melissa Andrews
- Supervisor – Barbara Garvin
This year’s week of celebration will start with the Hampton Roads Telecommunicator’s Banquet in Suffolk on Saturday, April 7. At the banquet, award recipients will be honored and the city’s 2011 Telecommunicator of the Year will be announced.
Additional activities are planned during the week to recognize these professionals, including a proclamation by Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr. recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunications Week in Virginia Beach.
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