Recognizing our dispatchers

NORWALK — April 11 tol 17 is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Norwalk Police Chief Mike Conney said some of the best public safety telecommunicators in Ohio are right here at the Norwalk Police Department. "It is a very difficult, very demanding job," he said. "They are the first and most critical link in the emergency response chain and their great work many times goes unnoticed." Dispatcher Priscilla Perez said, "I enjoy being helpful — helpful to my coworkers, Norwalk residents, pretty much everyone I can be helpful to." She said dispatchers pretty much assist everyone, but some departments noted were the Norwalk Municipal Court, Fisher-Titus, Job and Family Services and local schools. "A lot of people don't realize most of the time it's just one of us in here for the entire city of Norwalk," Perez said. "It's not a walk in the park." When fully staffed there are a total of six dispatchers. There are two per shift for three days of the week and they work eight-hour shifts. "Our citizens and first responders are extremely fortunate to have some of the most skilled, caring, service-oriented people answering the call when an emergency response is needed," Conney said. The following NPD dispatchers are recognized for their dedication to the safety of the citizens and first responders, as well as the fulfillment of their mission: Dispatcher Justin Crank Dispatcher Priscilla Perez Dispatcher Janet Lichoff Dispatcher Kate Barker Dispatcher Hilary Bores