In honor of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 11-17), the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office is recognizing the many members of our Emergency Communications Center (ECC).

Communications officers in the Stafford County Emergency Communications Center dispatch all calls for the Sheriff’s Office and Fire and Rescue. The ECC, which operates 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, receives, on average, 327,772 phone calls per year. That breaks down to 898 calls per day or 37 calls per hour. Communications staff work twelve hour shifts and come to work in inclement weather, on holidays, and on weekends. They worked through the pandemic and are known for adapting to any challenges they face.

Communications officers do more than just answer the phone. They must monitor multiple computer systems while also listening and replying to first responders by radio. The typical workstation has six or more computer monitors running several different systems that must be constantly monitored. In addition, communications officers are responsible for text to 911, emergency radio communications, and teletype communications. ECC personnel also input missing persons and stolen cars into national databases as well as monitor traffic cameras, security cameras, and panic alarm systems. Lastly, they provide after-hours services for several other county agencies.

Most importantly, communications officers are the calm voice on the other end of the line. They listen to people in crisis and work hard to ensure help is sent to the right location. Communications officers are the connection we need in our most difficult times. On a daily basis, they exhibit the Sheriff’s Office core values of professionalism, integrity, compassion and fairness. The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office thanks our communications officers for their service to our community.