I want to introduce you to a group of unsung heroes at the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office whose hard work deserves much more attention: Our Telecommunicators. These men and women are working behind the scenes to save lives every day, even though the task we ask of them is often extremely stressful, draining and thankless. They really are the first of the first responders. Even though the people they save may never know their names or their faces, I’m willing to bet many of them will never forget their voices. I hope you’ll join me in celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (April 8-14, 2018). It’s a time to honor all the under-recognized individuals who come to work day in and day out to serve as a lifeline for our residents, our law enforcement officers and all the men and women in public safety out there working to protect our community. They answer hundreds of thousands of 911 calls every year, sending help to victims who need it fast. And we recently recognized several who provided life-saving CPR instructions over the phone, giving a patient a chance to survive in those crucial moments before help arrives. I’m thankful for these Telecommunicators every day. I just want to make an extra effort to show my gratitude during this special week that’s dedicated to them. We appreciate anything you can do to show your support for these crucial members of the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office. Together we can show them their dedication is appreciated and will never be taken for granted. -Sheriff Mike Chitwood