WCSO honors Washtenaw Metro Dispatch

submitted by the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff Jerry L. Clayton and the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office celebrated the second National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week last week, sponsored by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and celebrated annually. The week honors the thousands of men and women who respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance to the world’s citizens. 

Washtenaw Metro Dispatch is the primary Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for Washtenaw County and provides 911 dispatch services for eight different law enforcement agencies which serves 92% of Washtenaw County’s population. If you’ve ever had to call 911 in the midst of a crisis, you know how important they are to the overall safety of our community. 

Serving the law enforcement agencies of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Pittsfield, Northfield, Michigan State Police, DNR, WCSO, and the Huron-Clinton Metro Parks, Washtenaw Metro Dispatch is one of the busiest centers in the State of Michigan in regards to personnel, call volume, agencies dispatched for and population served. 

In 2018 Metro Dispatch received 246,604 emergency calls and dispatched out 198,369 calls for service. They also received 262,394 non-emergency calls. 

“This is a special opportunity to recognize and honor the great work that Washtenaw Metro dispatchers, call-takers and supervisory staff do 24/7 every day of the year,” said Sheriff Jerry Clayton. “The men and women who work in public safety communications are often the first voice that the public hears when they are facing a threat or crisis and need emergency services. The efficient and compassionate manner in which our Washtenaw Metro Dispatch tele-communicators interact with the members of our communities, help them navigate through a frightening experience and many times, save lives. Their dedication and exceptional performance of their duties makes us all proud.” 

You can hear from some of the great staff of Washtenaw Metro Dispatch in this recently released episode of Beyond The Badge. In this episode we give you an inside look at the true first responders. https://youtu.be/HHkmK7rtW2s 

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.