The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

Although there is only one week each year when the nation takes time to “officially” recognize Public Safety dispatchers, I just wanted to share with you my appreciation for the hard work, skill, dedication, caring and compassion that is just part of every dispatcher’s workday in our 9-1-1 dispatch center.

Our team at Walla Walla Emergency Services Communications (WESCOM) 9-1-1 is staffed with 12 exceptionally dedicated dispatchers, 3 Supervisors, and one Administrative Assistant who continually strive to deliver the best possible service to those in need of Law Enforcement, Fire and Emergency Medical Services 24 hours a day, every day.

People in this profession have not chosen this path because of high salaries, social status, or public recognition. Rather, they are here because they have chosen to fill a very real need in the delivery of emergency services to our citizens. If your eyes could only see a portion of what their ears regularly hear, you would have an entirely new perspective on life. A dispatcher’s ears listen to the needs of everyone they serve, from the general public to each and every police officer, deputy sheriff, firefighter, paramedic and EMT that responds to your emergencies. People seldom call Dispatch because they are happy. Many of our calls are from people having the worst day of their lives. They hear the pleas for help from faceless callers that they will never meet, but will also never forget. Fortunately, some of the atrocities they hear are balanced by also hearing some of the miracles of life. But the bottom line is that our dispatchers have chosen to dedicate their professional lives to making the Walla Walla Valley a safer place for everyone.

This past year, our area has seen more than the usual number of critical, high stress incidents involving deaths, injuries, property loss, and domestic violence issues. Our dispatchers are the ones that first hear of these tragedies, experience the emotions of the callers, and assist in getting the right help to the proper location as quickly as possible.

Our nation will celebrate National Public Safety Telecommunications Week April 14-20, 2019. Please take a moment to join me in recognizing and appreciating our local dispatch professionals for the emotionally strenuous, demanding and endless work they do every day. And remember, we are here when you need us…and still here even when you don’t.

Steven R. Ruley, Manager

Public Safety Communications – WESCOM 911

Walla Walla Police Department