National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week — A look inside Erie County 911 Call Center
Being a dispatcher is one of the most demanding and important jobs to keep the public safe.
'No day is the same,' said Tiffany Minteer, telecommunicator 4 at the Erie County 911 Call Center. 'It's not like what you see on TV. Not every single call you get is awful. In the four years that I've been here, there is one call that sticks with me.'
If there's an emergency, we are taught at a young age to dial 911.
This pivotal number connects us to someone who has the knowledge to guide us through our worst days.
Emergency Operations Center plan loses funding, renovations may be delayed
But what is it like to be on the other side of that phone call?
At the Erie County 911 Call Center, the telecommunicators work in pods — One for police and the other for fire.
The pods are broken down into sections in the county, and each console and call taker has their own duties.
'It's a very big team effort in there. If there's too much going o,n you have your other two pod mates there to assist you,' said Danielle Erdely, telecommunicator 4 at the Erie County 911 Call Center.
'The questions that we are asking are to get you the correct help. I know it can be frustrating because you're wanting that help and you're wanting it now,' said Minteer.
One of the toughest parts of Minteer's job is finding units to send to calls.
She said sometimes it can be a puzzle finding the closest available unit to send in a timely manner.
Once a call goes to the main 911 center, if it's in the Millcreek police response area, it gets redirected so they can dispatch the correct unit to handle the call.
Farmers bring awareness to farm vehicles on roads during Rural Road Safety Week
'Sometimes we have a slow day. I could probably answer maybe five, ten calls a shift. We could have a busy day where I could answer 40, 50, sometimes 60 calls, said Dan Dalleo, police dispatcher in Millcreek Township.
Dalleo said that something people may not understand is that dispatchers are normal people as well. Experiencing these calls can take a real mental toll …
'For me specifically, it's pediatric calls. Anytime something happens to a child, kind of hits home,' said Erdely. 'We're a big family out there, so talking with one another helps.'
One thing all of these dispatchers have in common — They want to make a difference in people's lives.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Peoria Park District opens new inclusive playground in West Peoria
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Children of all abilities now have a place to play at Fransiscan Recreation complex, thanks to Peoria Park District. The new playground includes a cliff wall, nature discovery table, interactive play panels like the letters maze and tic-tac-toe and much more. The sound of kids' laughter filled the air in and near the playground as a handful of kids got the first crack at the new playground. Their parents stood by, watching and enjoying the sights and sounds. Emily Cahill, the district's executive director, is glad to be able to work with the community in order to provide for the children. 'It's an opportunity for us to bring some new life to this park, which is well loved, lots of sports, a walking track that is used all the time,' she said during a mid-day press conference attended by the officials from the district and the city of West Peoria. It took roughly a year of community involvement, planning and design to get to this point. While parks within the park district are ADA compliant, Cahill said that out of the 42 total playgrounds, there are still more than a few that need to be fully replaced due to wear and tear and their age. 'We probably have somewhere in the range of 12 to 15 that need that full blown replacement and we have others that we're working on elements,' she said. Children's Museum in Peoria Celebrates a Decade Serving the Community A district priority is to be welcoming to all people, regardless of ability or age. 'One of our priorities is to make sure, as we talk about being welcoming to all that we mean to all,' she said. 'So really prioritizing this inclusion effort, making sure that we are representative and accessible to everyone, regardless of their physical ability, is something that we have prioritized and will continue to prioritize.' The district is working with smaller communities in the area to update or upgrade playgrounds that need it. Cahill even went as far as to say that Columbia Park on McClure Avenue could have a new playground sooner rather than later. 'We're really focusing in on those areas that need the most attention first, and then we'll work through you'll see new playgrounds at Columbia by the end of the year.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Flag retirement ceremony set for Saturday
DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — You can be a Hometown Hero by retiring your worn or damaged American flag. Saturday is Flag Day, and the Highspire VFW Post 8638 will be properly retiring flags. They are inviting people to bring their old flags to the VFW for the ceremony. According to the VFW website, flag disposal must follow flag etiquette. This includes: Folding the flag in its customary manner Building a large fire Placing the flag on the fire Coming to attention, saluting the flag, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and holding a brief period of reflection Ensuring the fire is safely extinguished and its ashes buried The event will start at 5 p.m. and is located at the VFW at 498 High St. in Highspire. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
The Lone Star and the cross: One man's sacred march across Texas & beyond
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) — Walter Masters, a resident of San Angelo, Texas, has been carrying a cross across the United States for the past 25 years. Thursday morning, a reporter from Concho Valley Homepage saw Masters walking the streets on the south side of San Angelo. Recent rainfall in San Angelo exceeds normal June levels According to Masters, he's walked across the country in 46 states while counting some serious mileage along the way. 'I've walked about 25,000 miles sharing the love of Christ everywhere we go,' said Masters. Masters said he's walked into the San Angelo Rodeo Parade and that God had called him to stay and focus on San Angelo and the surrounding cities. TGSO hosts run for Special Olympics Texas Masters makes the crosses he carries. When it comes to the cross he carries, he said it weighs about 35 pounds, but it is nowhere near the level Jesus had to carry; however, his cross serves as a reminder. 'I pray if they don't stop, that they are reminded of Christ because that's all that matters, not me,' said Masters. Masters noted that his journey with the cross was taking him through San Angelo as he made his way to Bronte, Texas, nearly 34 miles from San Angelo. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
