Help Celebrate and Honor Texas Public Safety Dispatchers’ Week

This week, join the community as Abilene honors our First Responders Dispatchers  during National Telecommunications Week.

This Week, It's All About the Voices Behind the Badge

From April 13-19, 2025, the Abilene Police Department is celebrating the unseen heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes, our Public Safety Telecommunicators. National Public Safety Telecommunications Week (NPSTW) is a time to recognize dispatchers and call takers, the calm and collected voices on the other end of a 9-1-1 call. These men and women are the heartbeat of emergency services, and in Texas, they're officially classified as first responders.

Who Are the Dispatchers?

At the Abilene Police Department, dispatchers and call takers operate as one coordinated team under the leadership of Lindsay Hoxsey. Whether it's fielding emergency calls, coordinating response units, or keeping officers safe in dangerous situations, these professionals are the first line of communication in every crisis.

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Abilene PD uses the term "dispatcher" broadly, but the team consists of both call takers (who handle incoming emergency and non-emergency calls) and radio dispatchers (who relay vital information to officers in the field). Both roles are licensed positions through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). The video below shows how one city, Austin, Texas honors its dispatchers.

Not for the Faint of Heart

Lindsay Hoxsey shared that the job is not without its emotional toll. “Many of the young dispatchers last for about a year before they decide to move on,” she said, pointing to the high-stress nature of the position. “Dispatchers have to be good and ready for anything, and they have to have in their hearts the want to help others.”

The calls they handle aren’t just noise in a headset, they’re real emergencies, often life-and-death situations. The emotional and mental strain is intense, but for those called to serve, it’s a career that leaves a lasting impact.

Want to Become a Dispatcher? Here's Your Chance

This week also brings a unique opportunity: the Abilene Police Department is actively hiring! If you’re 18 or older, can type (yes, even on a typewriter!), and thrive under pressure, you could become a licensed Telecommunicator. All training is provided, and the department is eager to find passionate individuals who want to make a real difference in the community.

A Lifesaving Legacy Since 1968

Did you know the very first 9-1-1 call in U.S. history was placed on February 16, 1968, in Haleyville, Alabama? The number was chosen for its simplicity, easy to remember and easy to dial, especially on a rotary phone. Today, dispatchers nationwide carry that same life-saving responsibility, 24/7.

Thank a Dispatcher This Week

Next time you see an officer, remember there’s a voice behind the scenes keeping everyone safe. Whether you send a thank-you card, drop off snacks, or simply share this article, every gesture matters.

Let’s give Abilene’s Public Safety Telecommunicators the appreciation they so deeply deserve.