Westside Story Newspaper – Online The News of The Empire – Sharing the Quest for Excellence
(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)—- ONTARIO, CA—- U.S. Representative Norma J. Torres (D-Pomona) recently joined with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, 911 dispatchers from the Fontana Police Department, and representatives from the San Bernardino and Riverside California Highway Patrol to visit the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Metropolitan Communications Dispatch Center. During the visit, Torres and Rosenworcel renewed their calls for the reclassification of public safety telecommunicators as a “Protective Service Occupation” in the final Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Standard Occupational Classification. Last year, OMB rejected the suggestion to reclassify the occupation, hindering the ability of dispatchers to access improved resources and benefits despite the extensive skills and training required by the profession.
Torres meets with Inland Empire dispatchers and representatives from the California Highway Patrol.
“As the only former dispatcher in Congress, I know that this job is about so much more than just picking up a telephone and sending an ambulance. Public safety telecommunicators are the first line of defense when someone is in need of help, and they deserve to be recognized as integral members of first responder teams,” said Torres. “Hearing firsthand from local dispatchers who are on the frontlines of everyday emergencies was incredibly invaluable. Commissioner Rosenworcel has been a key partner in calling for the reclassification of this occupation, and I look forward to continuing our efforts to ensure that dispatchers across the nation get the training and tools they need to handle the changing threats our communities face.”
“When the unthinkable occurs, 911 dispatchers are the very first point of contact. They direct resources, keep people calm, collect critical data, and help manage emergency situations,” said Rosenworcel. “It was an honor to join Congresswoman Torres, who knows firsthand the great lengths dispatchers go to for their communities, to tour the Los Angeles 911 call center and hear directly from those who answer our calls when we need it most. I look forward to working together to ensure that 911 dispatchers are reclassified from clerical workers to the emergency professionals that they are.”
Prior to her time in Congress, Torres spent more than 17 years working as a 911 dispatcher. She is a member of the Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus, and last year, she introduced the Next Generation (NG) 9-1-1 Act of 2017 to strengthen federal efforts to help state and local governments to transition to NG9-1-1 technology by providing new federal funding, technical assistance, and training, while ensuring 911 is kept under state and local control. Torres has also led calls to classify dispatchers as “Emergency Protective Service” personnel like other member of the first responder community.
Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel believes that the future belongs to the connected. She works to promote greater opportunity, accessibility, and affordability in our communications services, including making sure our first responders have the tools they need to be successful. That’s why Commissioner Rosenworcel has been a leading voice in the creation and implementation of FirstNet, a new public safety network to help police, firefighters and emergency professionals communicate and keep us safe. Like Congresswoman Torres, Rosenworcel has advocated for 911 dispatchers to be reclassified as emergency professionals, and not clerical workers, as they are currently deemed by the federal government.
