Safety agency hosts local celebration of National Dispatchers Week.

Thanks, Dispatchers!

Story by Arlene Herrero, Club Vice President of Business Development
Photos by Guadalupe Lira, Club Director of Retail and Ecommerce, and courtesy LAPD

The LAPD celebrated National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week – popularly known as National Dispatchers Week – April 13-19, honoring its Public Service Representatives (911 dispatchers) for their commitment to City service and dedication to public safety with ceremonies, honors and fun.

During this week, the department honored and recognized the dedicated civilian police dispatchers who are the lifeline of public safety. It is truly a special time for the employees, who provide 24-hour, year-round service to one of the largest and busiest public safety answering points in the nation.

The LAPD Communications Division is responsible for the operation of the Los Angeles City 9-1-1 and police dispatch system. ln 2023, LAPD Dispatchers answered more than 3.5 million calls while also providing dispatching service to field Officers. 

“This year more than ever, due to their continuous work post pandemic, in a rapid changing environment, we would like to acknowledge our dispatchers for their commitment to serving the citizens of the City of Los Angeles,” the department wrote.

In 1992, President George H. Bush established National Dispatchers’ Week to honor police dispatchers for providing vital emergency City services to their community nationwide.

The LAPD’s Metro Communications and the Valley Communications Centers held open houses to bring recognition to their critical staffers. The Club stopped by to say hello and to honor the Dispatchers for the work they do. Special thanks go to Capt. Raymond Valois, Lidia Marcial and all the Watch Commanders who welcomed us. •

Metro Dispatch Center

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Valley Dispatch Center

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Theme Days During National Dispatchers Week 2025, the LAPD’s Metro and Valley Communication Centers hosted theme days. Here are highlights of some of the fun! 1 of 4

Trainer of the Year Guadalupe De La Cruz, PSR III, Club Member, was named 2024 Trainer of the Year by the Southern California APCO (California Public Safety Radio Association), an industry association serving public safety communicators. The honor was bestowed upon her at an APCO conference during National Dispatchers Week. “With 28 years of experience, Guadalupe has been a powerhouse in training and mentoring the next generation of dispatchers,” the association wrote. “In 2024 alone, she was loaned to the Training Unit to help instruct a new Class of PSR trainees, led impactful Critical Incident Training at the Police Museum using her firsthand knowledge of the 1997 North Hollywood shootout, and stepped in as a substitute instructor whenever needed. “This recognition not only celebrates her incredible accomplishments—it’s also a perfect way to honor the dedication of all our dispatchers during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.” Congratulations, Guadalupe!

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