The week from April 12 to April 18 is dedicated to the unsung heroes of public safety.

In 1991, Congress proclaimed the second full week of April to be 911 National Telecommunicators Week.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging everyone to take some time this week to recognize these men and women who are often overlooked.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s 911 Dispatch Center is seldom seen by the public and often taken for granted. The center is staffed with professionals dedicated to assisting the public in the event of an emergency.

They are trained to be a calming influence and obtain critical information from the caller before dispatching police, fire and medical units.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office would like to publicly recognize and thank not only their own but all public safety telecommunicators for their dedication, perseverance and courage in performing one of the most difficult and important jobs in the community.