In a time of crisis, dispatchers are the calming voice on the other end of the phone line, the one with answers or advice. They’re “the life blood” of public safety, the true first-responders; this is where it all starts.

That’s why the week of April 10-16 — National Telecommunicators Week — is a good time to pause for a minute and celebrate, honor, and publicity recognize those otherwise unsung heroes on the other end of the line, “the most important people you will never see.”

“We take the calls , we provide a voice to the people in need. We offer guidance and assistance to the responding crews, we give them a cheerful greeting when needed,” says Joanne Roy in the Journal of Emergency Dispatch. “But above all we shine, and this is our week to feel it!”

In Kane County, there are actually five organizations that provide dispatch service.

KaneComm  includes calls for the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, police departments from Wayne, Gilberts, Hampshire, Maple Park, Pingree Grove, Campton Hills, Fox Valley Park District, Kane County Forest Preserve District and South Elgin, and the fire districts of Burlington, Hampshire, Maple Park, Pingree Grove, Fox River, Big Rock and Kaneville.

Tri-Com Central dispatches for St. Charles, Geneva Batavia, Elburn and Sugar Grove and police, fire and medical emergency services, North Aurora fire and medical emergency services and the Waubonsee Cadets.

Aurora Central dispatches for the Aurora police, fire and emergency medical services and the North Aurora Police Department.

Quad Com dispatches for the Carpentersville, West Dundee and East Dundee police, fire and emergency medical services, the Sleepy Hollow, South Barrington and Barrington Hills police and the Rutland Fire and emergency medical services.

The Elgin Police Department dispatches for Elgin and police, fire and emergency medical services and the South Elgin fire and emergency medical services.

Telecommunicators have a tough job. They field multijurisdictional calls from the public and determine the nature and location of the incident in order to quickly and efficiently deploy police, fire, and medical units as necessary.

Telecommunicators must maintain contact with all of the units on assignment while consistently disseminating information and updating their status and location. Staff must monitor several complex radio frequencies while operating a variety of communications equipment. Simultaneously; information must be entered and retrieved from an assortment of electronic data files.

National Public Safety Telecommunicator’s Week is the time set aside each year to give recognition to these professionals and thank them for their dedication to public safety. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, ready to help you in your darkest hour. They bridge the gap between the people in need, with the safety service that can help. They ensure the safety of our officers, firefighters, paramedics and emergency personnel to provide the best response possible.

SOURCES: KaneComm website, IAED Journal, National Public Safety Telecommunicators website

About KaneComm

Kane County Emergency Communications (KaneComm) is a multi-jurisdictional dispatch center responsible for the deployment of several police, fire, and medical agencies located within Kane County. KaneComm personnel are tasked with all of the incoming emergency and non-emergency calls for assistance from citizens residing in these jurisdictions.

Subscribers to KaneComm include the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, police departments from Wayne, Gilberts, Hampshire, Maple Park, Pingree Grove, Campton Hills, Fox Valley Park District, Kane County Forest Preserve District and South Elgin, and the fire districts of Burlington, Hampshire, Maple Park, Pingree Grove, Fox River, Big Rock and Kaneville. For more information, visit the KaneComm web page.

Other 9-1-1 Agencies in Kane County

• TRI COM CENTRAL, dispatches for:
  • St. Charles Police/Fire/Emergency Medical Services
  • Geneva Police/Fire/Emergency Medical Services
  • Batavia Police/Fire/Emergency Medical Services
  • Elburn Police/Fire/Emergency Medical Services
  • Sugar Grove Police/Fire/Emergency Medical Services
  • Waubonsee Cadets
  • North Aurora Fire/Emergency Medical Services

• AURORA CENTRAL dispatches for:
  • Aurora Police/Fire/Emergency Medical Services
  • North Aurora Police

• QUAD COM, dispatches for:
  • Carpentersville Police/Fire/Emergency Medical Services
  • West Dundee Police/Fire/Emergency Medical Services
  • East Dundee Police/Fire/Emergency Medical Services
  • Sleepy Hollow Police
  • South Barrington Police
  • Rutland Fire/Emergency Medical Services
  • Barrington Hills Police

• ELGIN POLICE DEPARTMENT, dispatches for:
  • Elgin Police/Fire/Emergency Medical Services
  • South Elgin Fire/Emergency Medical Services

Read the 9-1-1 Tip of the Month Series

• Provide Your Location, Location, Location
• Don’t Hang Up! Even If You Call By Mistake
• 9-1-1 Tip: Don’t Let Kids Play With Cell Phones
• 9-1-1 Tip of the Month: ‘Granny Wants a Beer’ Is Not an Emergency Situation
• KaneComm, Other Agencies Launch Text to 9-1-1