Today marks the beginning of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week 2021. Telecommunicators or dispatchers are the ones who answer your 911 calls day and night, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. ⁣⁣⁣
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They are the calm voice on the other end of the phone in your time of need.⁣⁣⁣
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We want to take the time to thank them for all they do. Since 1995, the Bedford Hills Fire Department has been dispatched by the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services (60 Control) - whom have efficiently handled over 10,000 incidents we have been involved in. 60 Control dispatches us to emergencies day in and day out as well as most fire and EMS agencies throughout Westchester. Dispatchers give us CPR directions over the phone, directions for childbirth, bleeding control procedures and so much more. ⁣⁣⁣
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This past year they have been our first line of defense in pre-screening all 911 calls for COVID-19. By doing this they advise us before we leave the building of any possible exposures and advise us to don our PPE.

BHFD also has a very strong relationship with the Town of Bedford Police, and its Communications Division. Most emergency calls and especially landline based 911 calls in the Town of Bedford are first answered and processed by the Officer and Dispatchers of BPD, before being transferred to the appropriate agency.
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They remain on the line until our arrival ensuring help has arrived.

The Bedford Hills Fire Department currently has five members who are Public Safety Communicators, and several who have done so as previous careers.

WCDES - 60 Control (Current)
President/Ex Captain - Robert W. Bancroft (653)
Chief of Department - Alexander W. Dennett Sr. (672)
Deputy Chief - Jason L. Nickson (667)

WCDES - 60 Control (Past)
Ex Chief - Santo Curro (615)
Deputy Chief - Joseph J. Lombardo III (639)

Bedford Town Police - Communications Division
Deputy Chief - Dominick N. Bueti (204)

Greenburgh Town Police Department
Lieutenant - Sean A. Curro

Happy National Telecommunicators Week to all the emergency dispatchers out there and thank you for what you do!⁣⁣