Last year, there were nearly 369,000 emergency calls in Caddo Parish -- all fielded by our "unseen heroes." This week, National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, we recognize those men and women. Shreveport Fire Department Communications Chief Kathy Rushworth tells me it's easy to think of law enforcement and firefighters when you think of public safety. But the folks behind the receivers are the area's FIRST first responders. In their goal of a minute or less, they take the call, determine the location and type of emergency, send out appropriate law enforcement or fire personnel, provide pre-arrival instructions to the caller, and stay on the line for field support through the entire event. Chief Rushworth says it's a rewarding job...but it can be stressful, and often tragic, too. Today, Mayor Cedric Glover and officials from the Shreveport Fire and Police Departments and the Caddo Sheriff's Office will recognize our local communicators at a 2 p.m. ceremony in the Emergency Communications Center. We congratulate them on a job well done.

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