Biden Administration official tours Montgomery County 911 Center
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) – Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, Alan Davidson, toured Montgomery County’s 911 Emergency Communications Center.
Monday marks the beginning of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and on Monday, Davidson showed his appreciation for the crucial work dispatchers perform every day. He spoke with some of the courageous people who respond to emergency calls.
“We’re here today at Montgomery County’s 911 Call Center to lift up and salute the work of these heroic men and women,” he said.
Recycling on the rise in Montgomery County
Davidson says he wanted to tour the facility and meet with call takers because they’re the nation’s first, first responders.
“I met Theo who is a 911 call taker and a dispatcher,” Davidson said. “I met Tina who has been here 17 years with Montgomery County dispatching for the fire department.”
Public Safety Communications Center Director, Cassandra Onley, said they’re currently facing an employee deficit of around 33%.
“I don’t know necessarily if it’s one particular cause,” Onley said. “Over the past three to four years, we have seen a change in the workforce in general.”
WATCH: Sheep sighting in Montgomery Village
Davidson says the Biden Administration is actively looking for ways to combat these staffing shortages nationwide.
“We are seeking additional funding from Congress in order to invest in the future of 911 systems,” he said. “Technology is changing, the that people use their phones is changing and we need 911 call centers to be able to keep up.”
Montgomery County Police says the Montgomery County 911 Center answered more than 860,000 calls in 2023.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.
