SUBJECT: Kingsport 911 Communications Specialists Honored During National Public Safety Telecommunications Week 2025
DATE: April 15th, 2025
GENERAL NARRATIVE
The Communications Specialists, also known as Dispatchers, of the Kingsport Emergency Communications District, are being honored this week, April 13th through April 19th 2025, as part of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW). Communications Specialists are the calm, yet highly trained, voice on the phone whenever a citizen calls 9-1-1 for help during an emergency.
Every year during the second week of April, telecommunications personnel in the public safety community are honored. This week-long event was originally created in 1981 by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office in California. Her goal was to set aside a time to celebrate and thank these individuals who dedicate their lives to serving the public, and make people aware of their hard work and dedication.
The Communications Specialists of Kingsport Central Dispatch process roughly a quarter of a million telephone calls annually. Approximately twenty percent of these calls are emergency calls to 9-1-1. Although a division of the Kingsport Police Department, Kingsport Central Dispatch also provides services for the Kingsport Fire Department, Sullivan County E.M.S., Kingsport Life Saving Crew, and other city departments and functions.
Kingsport Central Dispatch personnel serve under the supervision of the 9-1-1 Director, Lieutenant Kevin Hite, and include Communications Supervisor, Teresa Hillman, Technical Services Coordinator, Richie Hite, 4 Shift Leaders, and 14 Communications Specialists, most of whom are Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) certified. The Kingsport Police Department would like to take this opportunity to express sincere gratitude to all of the employees of Kingsport 9-1-1 and congratulate them on a job well done
RELEASING OFFICER
Lieutenant Justin McConnell
Kingsport Police Department Professional Standards Unit
Office (423) 229-9499, Fax (423) 343-9749
JustinMcConnell@KingsportTN.gov
