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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: April 7, 2015 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 4 -d <br />SUBJECT: Public Safety Telecom municators Week <br />1 <br />DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services PUBLIC HEARING: (Y /N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Proclamation <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Dinah L. Jeffries, 245 -6100 <br />James Groves, 245 -6100 <br />PURPOSE: To proclaim the week of April 12 through 18, 2015 as Public Safety <br />Telecom municators Week in Orange County. <br />BACKGROUND: Every year across the nation, the second full week of April is dedicated to the <br />professional women and men who serve as public safety telecommunicators. First conceived <br />by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County (California) Sheriffs Office in 1981, this <br />practice was recognized by Representative Edward J. Markey (D- Massachusetts) in what <br />became House Joint Resolution 284 to create "National Public Safety Telecom municators <br />Week" which became Public Law No. 102 -264 on March 26, 1992. <br />Each day hundreds of Orange County residents and those passing through rely on the <br />expertise and dedication of County Telecom municators. These professionals help save <br />countless lives by responding to emergency calls, dispatching law enforcement, fire and <br />emergency medical personnel and equipment and providing support to the residents and <br />visitors of the County. Their skills in making critical decisions during high - pressure situations <br />enable a rapid emergency response, while providing excellent customer service to those in <br />need. <br />Orange County Communications is the primary public safety answering point (PSAP) for all <br />emergency and non - emergency service calls in the County. In 2014 Orange County <br />Communications answered 80,489 9 -1 -1 calls and dispatched over 180,000 calls for service. <br />Orange County's Telecom municators continue to strive for excellence in their performance and <br />are among the highest trained in the state. They provide an invaluable service to the residents, <br />visitors and to the public safety providers across the County. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: None. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the Proclamation <br />and authorize the Chair to sign it. <br />