WHEREAS,  the week beginning April 10, 2016 is National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week; and

WHEREAS,  over 500,000 dedicated men and women are engaged in the operation of emergency response systems for federal, state, county and local governmental entities throughout the United States; and

WHEREAS,  these "unseen first responders" are responsible for responding to the telephone calls of the general public for police, fire and emergency medical assistance and for dispatching assistance to help save the lives and property of our citizens; and

WHEREAS,  Americans place their trust in these individuals, not just this week, but every day of the year, and rely on their knowledge and professionalism as they make critical decisions, obtain information and quickly dispatch needed aid; and

WHEREAS,  the calls for help include not only police, fire and emergency medical service calls but those governmental communications related to natural disasters, forestry and conservation operations, highway safety and maintenance activities and all other operations that modern governmental agencies must conduct; and

WHEREAS,  Maine's public safety telecommunicators daily serve the public in countless ways without due recognition by the beneficiaries of their services; now, therefore, be it