April 13- 19, 2025, is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. The week is set aside to recognize the public safety 911 professionals who answer the phone when someone is having their worst day or the worst time of their life. I was fortunate to work with the State Police Regional Dispatchers at Shelburne Falls. Their skill, tenacity, persistence, and calmness were nothing less than impressive daily. They are calm in the storm. They remain unflappable while answering screams for help, and while being provided poor, misinformation, or malicious information, they ascertain information needed to send the correct level of response. They may be unseen, but their contributions to public safety are immeasurable. They continually seek new ways to improve service to the agencies they serve and the public.

Butch Garrity

Lanesborough