Major Larry Weber, Sergeant Travis Ing, Deputy Chief Paul Ferreira, Dispatcher Lesley Eggert, Dispatcher Robert Taylor, Supervising Dispatcher Mariam Kanaeholo, Dispatcher Roydon Kobayashi, Dispatcher Sabrina Hartz, Dispatcher Wanda Pua-Kaipo and Chief Harry Kubojiri pose during a luncheon celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.

MEDIA RELEASE

 

Dispatchers and call takers from the Hawai’i Police Department were recognized on Tuesday (April 14) in honor of National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.

At an employee luncheon funded by private donations, Chief Harry Kubojiri thanked the dispatchers for their work and said their voices have “a calming effect” on both callers and police officers during “a hectic situation.”

Deputy Chief Paul Ferreira said police don’t express their gratitude to dispatchers as often as they should. “In our eyes, believe me, you are appreciated,” he said.

Major Larry Weber said being a dispatcher is tough work. “It’s a profession,” he said. “It’s a calling and you should treat it as such.”

Since 1991, the second full week of April each year has been dedicated to the men and women who serve as public safety telecommunicators.