Senate Engrossed

recognizing public safety telecommunicators

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2024

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1030

A Concurrent Resolution

recognizing public safety telecommunicators for their tremendous contributions to public safety.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Whereas, public safety telecommunicators are available at all times to answer 911 and other emergency calls involving a variety of situations, including health emergencies, accidents, natural disasters, fires and toxic chemical releases and so much more. Public safety telecommunicators are the first to respond to some of the most critical and life-threatening moments people may face by applying their specialized and lifesaving training to coach callers through the crises until additional emergency responders arrive on the scene. These highly trained individuals also gather essential information during high-risk incidents, such as active shooter situations, to protect the public and provide situational awareness to responding officers; and

Whereas, during life-threatening times of crisis, public safety telecommunicators must quickly and calmly provide an array of accurate, in-depth instructions that can be the difference between life and death. Without the readily available and expert assistance of public safety telecommunicators, critical initial treatment would be delayed, outcomes would be poorer and the results could be fatal; and

Whereas, public safety telecommunicators are a critical link in communications with not only the public but also with fellow first responders. When law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians call on the radio, it is public safety telecommunicators who receive those transmissions and who use their training to route available resources to responders in the field and analyze additional data from record management systems, callers and databases to provide critical information to on-scene units. Public safety telecommunicators play a critical role in every emergency incident, from initial reception through dispatch and until the final disposition; and

Whereas, public safety telecommunicators are often the first to respond to horrific firsthand reports of crimes, accidents and other emergencies. In 2023, the Arizona Legislature extended traumatic event counseling to public safety telecommunicators, recognizing that these dedicated individuals make great sacrifices to serve our communities.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the Members of the Legislature commend the hardworking members of the public safety telecommunicator profession for their dedication and self-sacrifice and recognize public safety telecommunicators as a vital part of our state and local first responder teams.