If ever there has been a time to say "thank you" to our dispatchers, it's this week. April 12-18 marks National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week who, amid the current COVID-19 times, continue to come to work 24/7 answering emergency calls, and dispatching to both Provincial Conservation officers as well as front-line RCMP and Kensington police officers.
This is not a job that can be done from home, so while working in their emergency dispatch centres taking calls from the public, employees of the Operational Communication Centre (OCC) are practising distancing with regard to their work stations and equipment, heightened hygiene practices and extra cleaning of their general work environment.
There are no visitors allowed into the OCC, so the room is closed off to other employees/visitors, and operators themselves are asked to limit contact with the pubic, family and their friends on their time off adding to the challenge of an already very challenging job.
As part of a thank you, this would be an excellent time to remind everyone that emergency dispatchers across the country are answering a heavy number of COVID-19 calls for information that should be directed to public health, tying up emergency lines. Make sure you know who to call for information and our Provincial Health Office has provided great resources which you can find here Please don't call 9-1-1 unless it's a policing related emergency. Our province is the only one in the region which has a 1-800 # (1-800-958-6400) where you can provide concerns of someone you know who is not following the directives set out by Dr. Morrison, Chief Health Officer. We are fortunate to have this service so please take the time to know which number you should be calling, especially during these trying times when dispatchers are so busy.
Commanding Officer of PEI RCMP, Chief Superintendent Jennifer Ebert noted, "RCMP employees are very proud of our OCC dispatchers and are keenly aware of the importance of their job towards keeping Islanders and officers safe. We want them to know, that even though they are kept inside their dispatch centre, they are not working alone and that we appreciate the timely, patient and efficient work they do each and every day. From all of us, a sincere, 'thank you'!"