Sheriff’s Corner: Recognizing the hard work of dispatchers, corrections officers (2024)

April is recognized as “National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week,” also known as recognition for 911 Dispatchers. Nationally, this week-long event, held annually during the second week of April, honors telecommunications personnel in the public safety community. This week is very important to recognize professionals in the law enforcement area that don’t often get recognition or appreciation, as much of their work is done quietly behind the scenes where the public does not see them working. Often, we do not know that they exist until a time of need in an emergency.

We would like to thank the members of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center for their professionalism, dedication and commitment to protecting and serving the citizens and visitors to Cass County. Utilizing telephones, cellphones, radio systems and computer systems, dispatchers provide a crucial and important link between law enforcement, EMS, fire professionals and citizens on a daily basis. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center utilizes 10 dispatchers and dispatch supervisors that are on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week answering all calls for service and 911 calls within Cass County.

The Cass County Communications Center handles all public safety dispatching for law enforcement (except for the Leech Lake Department of Public Safety Tribal Police) including police departments, fire departments, medical ambulances and first responders. This is the hub of communications within Cass County. The Communications Center works closely with other departments, including Minnesota State Patrol, the Leech Lake Tribal Police, as well as other police departments within the county. The center also dispatches for all 10 fire departments within the county.

The job of a 911 dispatcher is very busy and can be stressful at times. These professionals, who gather essential information from callers and dispatch the appropriate first responders to the scene, must be able to take control of situations that may be chaotic, heart-wrenching, stressful, confusing and frenzied. Dispatchers must be organized, adept at multi-tasking, level-headed and trustworthy. Their work within emergency response services often places them in the middle of life or death situations, so requirements and continuous training is a major function of the job.

In addition to the recognition of Communication Officers, the first full week of May 2024 is recognized as "National Correctional Officers' Week." to honor the work of correctional officers and correctional personnel nationwide.

Another behind the scenes but critical and necessary job is that of a corrections officer. In recent years, the duties of these officers have become increasingly complex and demanding, in response to drug and opioid addictions and mental health crises. They are called upon to simultaneously fill custodial, supervisory and counseling roles. The professionalism, dedication and courage exhibited by these officers throughout the performance of these demanding and often conflicting roles deserve our respect. The important work of correctional officers often does not receive the recognition from the public it deserves

Our correctional officers, transport officers and bailiffs work in our Detention Center (jail) and courtrooms. Often unnoticed, they are the backbone and the safety and security of the jail, working directly with inmates incarcerated in our facility.

Jails and detention facilities are complex facilities and must provide inmates with a variety of services, including around-the-clock safety and security, meals, medical and mental health care, clothing and linens, visitation services, mail, programs, telephones, access to attorneys and other service providers. They must also assist with Court and other appointments, intake and release and maintain safety and security for the county and community. It takes a highly trained staff of professionals to complete these tasks that are often performed in unfriendly or with hostile resistance from the individual that we are serving in this capacity. Our correctional officers see all walks of life and work with individuals sometimes when things are at their lowest point in the individuals’ lives.

Our Detention Center is a busy place. The correctional officers at the Cass County Sheriff’s Office are professionals who work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays. The Cass County Sheriff’s Office is proud of the work our correctional officers and employees do and would like to recognize and honor them during the national week of recognition.

If you have specific questions that you would like answered in this column or in person, please feel free to contact me anytime using one of the following methods: By email at bryan.welk@casscountymn.gov ; by phone at 218-547-1424 or 800-450-2677; or by mail or in person at the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, 303 Minnesota Ave. W, P.O. Box 1119, Walker, MN, 56484.