MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL
A Division Of The
Department of Public Safety
Public Information and Education Division - PO Box 568 - Jefferson City, MO 65102
NEWS RELEASE

For further information please contact: Capt. John J. Hotz
Q4132016 (573) 526-6115

April 13, 2016
EMPHASIS: National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

Colonel J. Bret Johnson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, would like to make the public aware of the following:

April 10-16, 2016, marks National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. This event honors the thousands of men and women throughout the United States who respond to emergency calls for assistance, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance to citizens of our great nation. The Missouri State Highway Patrol is proud to join in recognizing the dedication of our Patrol communications personnel as well as other public safety communications professionals throughout our state. We commend you on your tireless efforts to support field responders and provide critical services within the state of Missouri.

In 1937 the Missouri Legislature approved plans to create various troop locations and radio stations around the state. It further approved the hire of sufficient radio personnel to man these stations. Fifteen radio personnel were ready by the time the buildings were up and operational to begin the task of providing communications. Today, the Patrol’s business lines, highway emergency lines, and radio systems are manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week by 153 communications operators and telecommunicators spread among our nine troop locations.

These professionals are the first contact for citizens of Missouri, and those traveling through our state, who need routine or emergency services provided by the Patrol. These dedicated men and women also operate the crucial radio communications network for troopers, commercial vehicle enforcement, and specialist operations responding to highway emergencies. During natural disasters or other catastrophic events they, along with 25 radio technicians and eight communications technical and operations managers, form a statewide communications backbone necessary for effective emergency operations.

“Every law enforcement agency relies on their communications professionals to achieve their mission of service and protection. I want to publicly express my appreciation to all public safety communications personnel,” said Colonel J. Bret Johnson. “I also want the Patrol’s communications personnel to know how important they are to the Patrol’s tradition of excellence. Every day, our communications employees exemplify our agency’s core values of integrity, responsibility, respect, professionalism, compassion, resourcefulness, character, and commitment.”

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