WYDOT celebrates National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

Dispatch staff honored for round-theclock effort

By Mark Horan

Dispatch staff with the Wyoming Highway Patrol and the Transportation Management Center received special recognition on April 9-15 as part of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

Throughout the country, and certainly in Wyoming, dispatch staff play an important in role public safety.

Operating out of the same building in Cheyenne, the WHP Dispatch Center and the TMC are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The centers never close for holidays or snow days. Storm events can be some of the busiest days for both centers.

On the WHP side, “dispatch staff are our citizens’ first contact with emergency services,” said WHP Sgt. Jeremy Beck. “These men and women are a vital link for our law enforcement officers, EMS, and fire by monitoring their radio activities and providing guidance, assistance, and information to ensure their safety.”

Depending on where the call originates, as much as 20 percent of 911 calls received by county level Public Safety Answering Points are transferred to the WHP Dispatch Center in Cheyenne, according to Emergency Communications 911 Planning Coordinator Aimee Binning.

On the TMC side, dispatch staff are responsible for monitoring road conditions throughout the state, maintaining public information on WYDOT’s various travel information tools, and communicating with operations staff and other personnel to coordinate maintenance efforts such as snow removal, road closures, and construction work zones.

Beck said that it’s also important to thank the families of dispatch staff for their sacrifices and support to the profession. WHP and TMC telecommunicators often work long hours, missing holidays, family events, and other activities so the center can be adequately staffed.

As an expression of gratitude, WHP and TMC dispatch staff received banners signed by numerous employees within WYDOT.

To those members of the WYDOT family who serve as public safety telecommunicators, we appreciate you. Thanks for your hard work and commitment in providing a valuable service to the state.