COLUMBIA, MO (April 7, 2011) -

In times of emergency, they are the first voices you may hear.  When Columbia and Boone County residents call 9-1-1, they hear the calming voice of help coming from the Communications Operators in the Public Safety Joint Communications (PSJC) Operations Center.  PSJC honors those operators during the observance of “National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week”, April 10 – 16, 2011. 

“Our 9-1-1 operators are the critical first line of assistance for persons in need of help,” says PSJC Director Zim Schwartze.  “Many may not fully realize the sheer volume of calls our dispatchers handle each year.  In 2010, operators handled over 71,000 9-1-1 calls covering a wide range of emergency situations and an additional 248,000 phone interactions.  It takes a special kind of person to be a 9-1-1 operator and residents of Columbia and Boone County are very fortunate to have such an excellent and committed staff.” 

Public Safety Joint Communications currently dispatches for ten public safety agencies in the Columbia/Boone County area.  These include the Boone County Fire Protection District, Columbia Fire Department, Southern Boone County Fire Protection District, Ashland Police Department, Boone County Sheriff’s Department, Columbia Police Department, Hallsville Police Department, Sturgeon Police Department, Boone Hospital Ambulance Service, and University Hospital Ambulance Service.  PSJC also provides assistance to other public safety agencies in our area. 

Several activities are planned during the week to honor the PSJC operators. Columbia Mayor Bob McDavid and Boone County Presiding Commissioner Ed Robb will unveil an official Proclamation acknowledging the contribution to our community by 9-1-1 operators at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, April 15^th.