Carroll County asks General Assembly to recognize 911 telecommunicators as first responders

The Carroll County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution April 6 requesting that the Virginia General Assembly recognize 911 Telecommunication Officers (public safety dispatchers) as first responders and consider including them within the hazardous duty retirement multiplier administered by the Virginia Retirement System.

The resolution text notes that telecommunicators "serve as the first point of contact for residents experiencing emergencies and provide critical communication between the public and emergency responders" and that the U.S. Senate has passed the Enhancing First Response Act recognizing 911 professionals as part of the nation's first responder system. Supervisor Ronnie Collins moved to approve the resolution; Bill Bryant seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

Board members used the opportunity during remarks to thank dispatchers, EMS and volunteers for their service. The motion did not include funding changes or local retirement adjustments; it represents the board's formal request to the General Assembly and to the Virginia Retirement System for consideration of hazardous-duty recognition and related retirement multiplier changes.