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Cheatham County formally recognizes emergency telecommunicators as first responders
Summary
The Cheatham County Legislative Body adopted a resolution March 17 recognizing emergency telecommunicators as First Responders and endorsing state and federal efforts to reclassify 911 telecommunicators, passing by roll call 9–0 with three absences.
The Cheatham County Legislative Body on March 17 adopted a resolution formally recognizing emergency telecommunicators as First Responders and urging support for state and federal reclassification efforts.
County Attorney Michael Bligh presented the resolution, which notes the specialized training, high-stress working conditions and critical role telecommunicators play in public safety, and cites concern about a federal Office of Management and Budget classification that categorizes telecommunicators as clerical staff. Commissioner B.J. Hudspeth moved the resolution; Commissioner Chris Gilmore seconded. The motion passed by roll call vote 9 Yes, 0 No, 3 Absent.
The resolution states the county’s support for legislation such as the 911 Saves Act at the federal level and calls for recognition that emergency telecommunicators are part of the public-safety first-responder framework. The resolution records the county’s view that telecommunicators’ duties can lead to vicarious trauma and PTSD and requests that state and federal authorities revise classifications and recognition accordingly.
Action taken: the Legislative Body approved the resolution by roll call vote and recorded the vote in the official minutes. The resolution directs county officials to support state and federal legislative or administrative efforts to reclassify emergency telecommunicators and to include this support in county advocacy.
