AUBURN — The Dispatchers at Lewiston-Auburn 911 celebrated National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week during the week of April 9. 

The week was filled with activities, food and gifts provided by the administrative staff.

Public Safety Dispatchers are the very first first responders, the “behind the scenes” heroes of public safety. They are the people on the other end of the phone when someone dials 9-1-1. 

In 1979, the Cities of Lewiston and Auburn agreed to create a jointly funded 911 Center. The Lewiston-Auburn 911 Emergency Communications Center has been taking calls in their Minot Avene facility since 1996. The center answers and dispatches calls for Lewiston, Auburn, and Poland and is the only CALEA Accredited Communications Center in the State of Maine.

Dispatchers, from left, Katie Gallant, Tim Hall and Debi Lessard are among the “heroes behind the scenes” at the Lewiston-Auburn 911 Emergency Communications Center. 

Celeste Arsenault, left, and Mark Cayer are among the very first responders when the public calls 911 to the Lewiston-Auburn 911 Emergency Communications Center. During the week of April 9, dispatchers celebrated National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week.

Freda Keyser holds a gift she received from administrative staff at the Lewiston-Auburn 911 Emergency Communicaitons Center. Keyser is a dispatcher, and she and others were shown thanks during National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week.