04/13/2026
The second full week of April of each year brings a chance for us to share with our partners and the public, an event that is very important to us at Berks DES ...
The difference between life and death for you or a loved one can be a thin line. This line is held firm by the men and women of the emergency services. Depending on the nature of your emergency, the line can be red (fire), blue (law enforcement), or white (EMS). However, EVERY one of these lines is reinforced by another line. This omnipresent protection for all of us is the thin gold line. It represents the dedication and actions of our public safety telecommunicators (PSTC).
A PSTC is what many members of the public think of as a 9-1-1 operator. However, the individuals in this career field do much more than just answer your 9-1-1 call. They provide life-saving pre-arrival medical instructions before EMS gets on location. They communicate on the radio with fire, police and EMS workers to ensure they are guided to your emergency and remain safe while there. They navigate highly technical systems to ensure that individuals are held accountable for their legal transgressions. Sometimes, they are just the ear and the voice that is there in your time of need.
They miss birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving and other important family time to ensure that someone is ready to help your family while you are celebrating. When other people are hunkered down because the weather is severe, they report to work early, on their own time, because they know that this is when you are most likely to need their help. These are just a few short examples of the silent vigil that is stood on your behalf 24x7x365.
So, what does this have to do with the second week of April?
The second week of April of every year is designated National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. If you know someone who works as a telecommunicator for Berks County DES, the City of Reading Police Communications Center, the PA State Police, or any other 9-1-1/emergency services dispatch agency, please take a moment to thank them this week for what they do each and every day.
But for them holding the thin gold line, your family would not be safe.
City of Reading Police Department
PA State Police
PA APCO
APCO International
Keystone State Chapter of NENA
Berks County Courthouse and Government Services Center
