04/16/2026
From the Sheriff:
When I was a young cop patrolling the midnight roads of our county I would drive from Dover to Greenville with nary a sign of life, save the wondering moose who liked to stand in the way. Things were different then; emergency calls we now dispatch several officers to, we took by ourself. Or better said, ourself and our constant companion, the DISPATCHER. They didn’t always know where I was, but they always knew how to reach me. They seemed to instinctively know when I might be in trouble and would find some cop, somewhere, to come to my aid. They were men and women with an extraordinary sense of public service and commitment to those placed under their watchful eye.
Dispatch has changed much over these years. Technology has brought public safety into a different era. You dial 911, and your location pops up on a screen. A few key strokes later and voila, we know the recent calls to this location and who has been involved; good to know as you head to the scene.
Dispatch is much more than answering a phone or talking on a radio. They are the true 1st point of contact for folks whose lives are in jeopardy and their world is crashing in. They deftly send fire trucks, ambulances, game wardens, cops and whoever else can meet the need of this moment. With competence they direct emergency units, calm a crying child, walk a spouse through CPR and try to make sense of the chaos on the other end.
All the while, radios are bursting with requests and orders. Incident commanders are in rapid fire issuing requests for units and info. Dispatchers are sorting out the 911 calls; tracking responding units; fulfilling the avalanche of requests. Keyboards are smoking, telephones are backing up, radio traffic reaches a crescendo as cops, fire chiefs, and other responders all vie for the attention of these people we call dispatchers.
And, with grace they handle it all. It’s a lot we ask of them: the emotional toil of encountering fear, grief, and panic of those calling 911; the soul searching that follows every critical incident; the unrealistic expectations and never-ending series of demands we place upon them.
Some agencies refer to these folks as 911 Telecommunicators. I’m old school and still call them DISPATCHERS. Whichever term is used, they are heart of public safety. I’m particularly proud of Piscataquis County Dispatchers, they are always there and will always find a way to get help where it’s needed. It may be a cop at your door, but it’s a dispatcher who got them there.
This is 911 Telecommunicators Week: thank a dispatcher for all they do!
