Week celebrates the contributions of more than 60 call-takers and dispatchers to community safety and well-being

 

Oakville, ON – The Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) is recognizing the dedication and contributions of the 9-1-1 Communicators who serve Halton Region, as yesterday marked the start of National Public Safety Communicators Appreciation Week.

“Being a 9-1-1 Communicator takes a special person who cares about our community and is invested in helping ensure the best possible outcome,” said Chief Stephen Tanner.  “We can’t thank our Communicators enough for the critically important work they do to support our officers and assist members of the public when they need it most. Their work is also essential to ensuring that our Region remains the safest large municipality in all of Canada,” Chief Tanner added.

More than 60 call takers, dispatchers, trainers, and supervisors are vital supports to HRPS’ front-line officers and members of our community. They work 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and are the first point of contact for more than 630,000 residents in an emergency.

Last year, the Service’s dedicated Communicators answered 158,678 9-1-1 and 148,228 non-emergency calls, an average of approximately 840 calls each and every day.

“We know that many of the calls we receive are from people having the worst day of their lives,” said Staff Sergeant Andy Forde. “It’s also important for the public to remember that we’re human too and we’re here to help.”

In honour of this year’s National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, the Service has created and shared a short video highlighting some of the faces behind the phones on its social media channels.

The Service reminds residents that use of 9-1-1 should be reserved for an emergency or crime in progress. Non-emergency incidents should be reported by calling the non-emergency line, 905-825-4777. Online Reporting is also available for lower-priority incidents, while reports of minor, non-injury motor vehicle collisions should be directed to the Collision Reporting Centre.

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Media Inquiries:

Halton Regional Police Service
Media Relations
Phone: 905-825-4899
Email: corpcomm@haltonpolice.ca

Communicators Week.mp4 from Halton Police on Vimeo.