ST. JOHNS COUNTY – News4JAX is spotlighting local 911 emergency dispatchers and their life-saving services in the community for National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW).
When there’s a 911 emergency in St. Johns County, Robert Ellison answers the call.
He’s been doing so for the last 17 years in St. Johns County.
“I’ve had two baby deliveries,” Ellison said. “One of which was in the parking lot of a Burger King and the people after the fact went to the hospital and got the birth certificate changed because the mom was transported to the address of the Burger King instead of the address of the hospital.”
Zachary Polen on the other hand, has only spent six months on the job so far but said every minute is rewarding.
“Giving someone a sense that they’re actually heard, because a lot of people don’t realize we’re people that our citizens actually talk to first when they call 911,” Polen said.
The hard work does not go unnoticed by the SJCO. There are small tokens of appreciation all around the 911 command center to recognize each emergency operator’s dedication to the community.
It’s all in honor of NPSTW, which lasts until April 20.
“It feels very good, I know throughout the year we all grow and everything changes and people come in and other people leave,” Polen said.
Florida is the third-largest employer of 911 dispatchers in the country with over 6,000 operators statewide.
But make no mistake, this job isn’t for the faint of heart.
“When I first signed up for this, I knew we were not classified as first responders and I’m okay with that if that doesn’t happen in my lifetime, but we really are and these people all in here bust their butts every single day taking calls from comedy to tragedy,” Ellison said.