Carmel, NY – This week marks National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, and Putnam County is taking the opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication of our 911 dispatchers. These individuals are often the first point of contact for those in crisis and play a vital role in keeping our community safe.

“This week is a time to remember the first first responders – the people who answer every call, every time and are a lifeline for the callers in need,” said Cindy Jacobsen, Putnam County Dispatch Supervisor. “While I have been in emergency services for over 30 years, the close to 20 years I have spent in the dispatch field has been the most challenging and rewarding. Helping people by giving them instructions over the phone at the worst time in their life is a challenge that only a very special person can do. I am proud to work with the professional and outstanding dispatchers of Putnam.”

“We’re encouraging everyone to take a moment and thank our dispatchers for all they do. If you know dispatcher, please be sure to say thank you,” said Bureau of Emergency Services Commissioner Robert Lipton. “Our dispatchers work incredibly hard and residents should rest assured that when they call 911, a caring, helpful individual will be ready to assist on the other end.”

“Our dispatchers are the unsung heroes of our public safety team,” said Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne. “They answer our 911 calls, dispatch emergency services, and provide support to our first responders, residents and more. They do all of this with professionalism, compassion, and dedication. They receive difficult calls detailing traumatic situations on a regular basis. In the end, it’s their work and ability to make quick decisions which can set the stage for a timely emergency response to save lives.”

In 2022, county dispatchers answered 114,426 calls and dispatched Fire, EMS, and Police agencies 12,963 times.