When someone has an emergency in St. Clair County, they call 911 or their local police or fire department. All of those calls go to the St. Clair County dispatchers in the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Office.

Each year, the second full week of April is dedicated to the men and women who serve as public safety telecommunicators.

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week helps recognize the more than 500,000 telecommunications specialists nationwide for their job providing public safety.

In St. Clair County, 27 dispatchers serve the entire county, handling all of the 911 calls, calls from police and fire departments, and dispatch to municipalities all over St. Clair County.

Full-time employees work 12 hour shifts, from 12 a.m.-12 p.m. or 12 p.m.- 12 a.m. They are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

Administrator of Operations Center Freddie Turrentine, who has been with the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department for 22 years, wanted to recognize the diligent staff.

“They handle calls and paperwork for the entire county,” Turrentine said. “I really wanted to thank them for their hard work.”

If you have an emergency, dial 911. For non-emergency calls, dispatch can be reached at 205-884-3333, 205-640-3333, or 205-594-3333.