Police Chief Michael C. DiBella and the members of the Lacey Township Police Department would like to recognize our department’s Public Safety Telecommunicators, also known as Police Dispatchers. This week (April 11th to April 17, 2021) is National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week.

Having started my career in Lacey Township many years ago as a Public Safety Telecommunicator, I understand how difficult and stressful this profession is.  Dispatching itself, is just a small facet of what these professionals do. Our nine full-time Public Safety Telecommunicators have a long list of responsibilities, including, but not limited to, answering both emergency (911) and non-emergency phone calls (often handling multiple calls at once), dispatching police officers and emergency services to calls for service, speaking with members of the public at the lobby window of Police Headquarters, monitoring the jail cells and security cameras throughout the building, and monitoring other law enforcement and emergency service channels. Additionally they are routinely required to enter information into various computer systems, for example, to create a case number for a call for service, or to enter a stolen vehicle or missing person.

In short, our Public Safety Telecommunicators serve as the vital link between our community and emergency services, they are what holds our police department together. While their work is usually done outside of the view of the public, they are an essential resource for first responders and the public alike and normally serve as the first point of contact for members of the public seeking help in an emergency situation.

In an average month, Lacey Township Public Safety Telecommunicators typically receive between 3000 and 4000 calls that are assigned for service.

We are fortunate to have a great staff of trained and dedicated Public Safety Telecommunicators here at the Lacey Township Police Department. Please join me in thanking all of them for their hard work and commitment to our community.

-Chief Michael C. DiBella