Honoring Yuma’s 911 dispatchers during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - The voices on the other end of a 911 call are being recognized this week as part of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

In Yuma, dispatchers play a critical role in emergency response, working behind the scenes to connect police, fire, emergency medical services, and animal control. All four agencies operate out of a combined dispatch center, using a shared radio and computer-aided dispatch system to communicate in real time when emergencies happen.

“We’re all a team. We all signed up to support the mission of helping and serving others," Gabrielle Trevino, a 911 Emergency Dispatch Supervisor, said. "We care about our officers, we care about all of our personnel. Our fire personnel, animal control. We want to ensure that we’re providing the best service that we can for the community.”

Dispatchers are often the first point of contact during emergencies, gathering critical information while simultaneously coordinating a response. Trevino says that even as call-takers ask questions, help is already being sent.

“Our questioning does not delay the dispatch. We have, again, a combined center where we have call takers and dispatchers," Trevino said. "So, when one person is taking the phone call, they’re inputting the information and it’s being dispatched out by another co-worker. So, it’s all being done simultaneously.”

The Yuma dispatch center also takes time during telecommunicators week to recognize its staff internally. Each year, the department celebrates with a unique theme. This year's theme, "Hooked on 911," highlights the teamwork and dedication that goes into every call.

While they may not be seen on the scene, dispatchers remain a vital link in the chain of emergency response. Helping ensure that when someone calls for help, the right resources are on the way.