Dispatcher Appreciation Week 2017

The week of April 9-15, 2017 is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Appreciation week, also known as Dispatcher Appreciation Week.  Our dispatchers are the ones who answer most of the incoming calls to the department, answer all the 911 calls, and relay important information to our officers in the field. 

Dispatchers are the ones behind the scene, who are often not recognized for their work.  They are the ones who answer when you dial 911 when you need help. They are a calm voice in that moment of need, and the ones who get the information to tell first responders where they are needed. 

Telecommunicators Week began in California in 1981 and quickly grew to national recognition. Just ten years later, Congress designated the second full week of each April as a time to remember the critical role that dispatchers play in keeping us all safe.

On behalf of the Arcadia Police Department, we say “thank you.”  Thank you to all the public safety telecommunicators and dispatchers out there.  And of course, we say a special “thank you” to our dispatchers.

Weekly Tip - Take Care if Deep Frying a Turkey

Five dangers of deep frying a turkey:

1. Turkey fryers can easily tip over, spilling hot cooking oil over a large area.
2. An overfilled cooking pot will cause cooking oil to spill when the turkey is put in, and a partially frozen turkey will cause cooking oil to splatter when put in the pot.
3. Even a small amount of cooking oil spilling on a hot burner can cause a large fire.
4. Without thermostat controls, deep fryers can overheat oil to the point of starting a fire.
5. The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles can get dangerously hot.

Thanks to the US Fire Administration for the safety info. Take a look at their webpage for additional tips.