On behalf of Iowa Chapters of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials and National Emergency Number Association, we want to thank the Iowa Legislature for passing Senate File 2373 this session. This bill made an important change to Iowa law by defining telecommunicators/911 dispatchers as public safety telecommunicators and recognizing their role as first responders. Specifically, we want to thank Representative Wes Breckenridge who worked tirelessly across party lines in both chambers to ensure unanimous passage of the bill. He understands emergency telecommunicators are an intricate part of the response system and are typically the first public safety point of contact for citizens. Collectively, they handle more than 1.1 million calls a year in Iowa.
As a retired lieutenant of the Newton Police Department having served as a police officer for 27 years, Breckenridge has a unique understanding of the vital role 911 dispatchers play as members of the public safety team. Due to his work, Iowa now joins Texas and California in recognizing public safety telecommunicators. He knows 911 professionals are extensively trained and their responsiveness can be the difference in a life or death situation.
The Iowa Chapters of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials and National Emergency Number Association are individual organizations that work together for the betterment of 911, public safety, and telecommunicators across the state.
Brad Shutts
Newton