VIDEO: Sheriff Stephen Williams of Lincoln Parish calls them the ‘unsung heroes’ of the sheriff’s office.
Whenever you dial 9-1-1, a dispatch deputy is on the other end ready to hear how they can help. The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International began recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week on Sunday (April 14).
“That’s a very demanding job. They have to make sense of, sometimes, of things that don’t make sense. They have to be able to handle many calls at one time if you have a situation happen,” said Williams.
The Communications Supervisor Michael Rainwater said they handle all emergency calls outside Ruston city limits.
“Whether it’s medical, fire, request for law enforcement - traffic accidents. We answer it all,” said Rainwater.