As we observe National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week this April, it is our honor and privilege to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary team at West-Comm, who play a pivotal role in our community’s safety. The dedicated dispatchers of West Cities Police Communications (West-Comm for short) are our unseen first responders, ensuring help is always just a call away.
West-Comm has been the backbone of emergency response in Seal Beach since 1997, also serving the cities of Cypress and Los Alamitos as a Joint Powers Authority. Situated within the main Seal Beach Police Station, these professionals have committed to providing exceptional 9-1-1 police dispatching services. Additionally, they extend their expertise to the Orange County Parks Park Rangers, offering crucial communication services.
Police 9-1-1 dispatchers are critical members of emergency response teams, serving as the first point of contact for individuals seeking immediate assistance. When a 9-1-1 call is placed, these dispatchers swiftly gather essential information, such as the nature of the emergency, the location, and any immediate threats or injuries. They then prioritize the calls based on urgency and dispatch the appropriate emergency services, which may include police, fire, or medical personnel. Throughout the incident, dispatchers maintain ongoing communication with the responding units, providing them with updated information and additional resources as needed. Their role is vital in coordinating a rapid and effective response, ensuring that help arrives as quickly as possible while also keeping emergency responders informed and safe.
Handling emergency calls with the utmost urgency, West-Comm dispatchers utilize a sophisticated computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system to enter critical details swiftly and accurately. This system allows information to be relayed instantly to our radio dispatchers, who coordinate with emergency personnel heading to the scene. Adhering to stringent service standards, our team aims to dispatch Priority One emergencies within 30 seconds—a testament to their efficiency and dedication.
During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, celebrated every second week of April, we join over 100,000 public safety telecommunicators worldwide in acknowledging their indispensable contribution. These professionals assist over 240 million callers annually, performing lifesaving work that often goes unrecognized.
We extend a heartfelt thank you to our West-Comm dispatchers. While they may not be in the field, their impact is profound. They are truly our first line of defense, playing a critical role in maintaining the safety and security of Seal Beach and its neighboring communities.
Let us all take a moment this week to appreciate these vital members of our emergency response team. Their dedication ensures that when a crisis strikes, no call for help goes unanswered. Thank you, West-Comm dispatchers, for your unwavering commitment and service.
For more information, please visit: http://www.west-comm.org/.
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