April 14-20, 2013, designated by Congress as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, serves as a time to honor the thousands of 911 telecommunicators who respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance to the citizens of the United States.
In an effort to recognize their professionalism and day-to-day accomplishments, the Evanston Police Department acknowledges the following telecommunicator milestones:
Lynn Fishman (23 Years); Dan Capesius (22 Years); Mike Stonequist (22 Years); Rich Clucas (14 Years); Chris Voss (14 years); Joe DesJardins (12 Years); Tory Wideman (10 Years); Jesse Ramsay (10 years); Linda Thompson (9 Years); Carl Hasten (8 Years); Jeff Holdren (7 Years); Lyndsey LaLonde (5 Years); Heather Cooper (2 Years); Karl Witt (1 Year); Angela Coker (6 Weeks) and Erika Herrera (4 Weeks).
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April is also National 911 Education Month. The Evanston Police Department and National 911 Education Coalition, an alliance of eight national organizations dedicated to advancing 911 public education across the country, want everyone to Be 911 Ready.
They advise anyone calling 911 to know or do the following:
• Know the location of the emergency, including streets, landmarks and cross streets, so safety officers will know where to look.
• Call; do not text, since 9-1-1 is not able to accept text messages, photos and video.
• Whenever possible, use a landline to call 911.
• Stay calm and be ready to listen.
More information is available at www.il911info.org.
Anyone who has questions regarding 911 emergency communications procedures may contact police/fire communications coordinator Perry Polinski at ppolinski@cityofevanston.org or 847-866-5071.