This week (April 12-18) marks National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, recognizing dispatchers’ work serving communities across the country. And while many Case Western Reserve University employees have been working from home due to COVID-19, the Division of Public Safety’s dispatchers have continued reporting to campus to help take care of the university community.
CWRU dispatchers provide a vital link between the campus community and fire, medical and law enforcement agencies. Their roles during the COVID-19 response have been expanded to include fielding calls for call centers around campus. During this time, a team of seven dispatchers (filling spots of 10 employees) has managed the responsibilities 24 hours a day.
And while their work is heightened during the pandemic, their roles are crucial to keeping the Case Western Reserve University community safe year round. Displaying dedication, commitment and generosity in their work, the team fielded more than 100,000 calls last year alone.
“We are lucky to have a small but mighty dispatch team that comes from a variety of backgrounds, but have picked CWRU to call their home,” said Megan Koeth, director of resiliency. “I’m very fortunate to be able to work with them and learn something new every day.”