National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, observed annually during the second week of April, is taking place from April 11 through April 18 this year. The week is dedicated to recognizing the important contributions made by public safety telecommunicators in emergency response.
The observance was first established in 1981 by a California dispatcher and gained formal recognition in 1991 when President Bill Clinton signed a proclamation designating the second full week of April as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. The aim is to raise awareness about the essential work performed by these professionals.
El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal said, “During this week, we honor the dedication and hard work of our EPSO telecommunications team, including dispatchers, call-takers, dispatch technicians, trainers, and all public safety telecommunicators who respond when called upon.” Roybal also said that as they celebrate alongside the grand reopening of their Regional Communications Center, these professionals are recognized as “the true ‘first’ first responders,” providing calm and compassion for the community.
“In 2025, their extraordinary efforts were reflected in an average 911 call answer time of just 7.29 seconds, with 89.59% of calls answered within 15 seconds, and nearly 285,000 calls for service processed across law enforcement, fire, and medical emergencies. To our unseen heroes behind the console, thank you for your service. Your commitment, kindness, and professionalism save lives and help keep our law enforcement officers and first responders safer every day. We are truly grateful,” Roybal said.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office announced the grand reopening of its Regional Communications Center in summer 2025. Originally built in 2012 to serve unincorporated El Paso County’s emergency needs along with other municipalities except Colorado Springs, it provides dispatch services for eight law enforcement agencies and twenty fire agencies.
Technological upgrades have helped improve efficiency at the center: Enhanced Emergency Call Back technology resolved hundreds of abandoned wireless calls automatically via text messaging; electronic processing was used for thousands of alarm responses; Text-to-911 services enabled communication where voice calls were not possible; pre-arrival instructions from Emergency Medical Dispatchers contributed to saving ten lives and assisting with eleven births last year.
