Kentucky State Police Recognize the ‘Heroes Behind the Headsets’”

Morehead, KY. (April 15, 2021) – Telecommunicators at Kentucky State Police Post 8 in Morehead will be recognized along with more than 200,000 of their fellow communicators nationwide April 11-17 during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

These silent heroes behind the headsets are more than just a voice on the other end of the line. They often save lives on a daily basis.

“KSP telecommunicators are challenged on a daily basis dealing with stressful situations, many that involve life and death, and they are expected to handle these situations with compassion, empathy and professionalism,” says Captain Danny Caudill, Commander of KSP Post 8 in Morehead. “They must be at their best while dealing with people who may be at their worst in many cases. People don’t usually call them for help when they are having their best day. By the nature of the business, they deal with people who have been victimized or need medical assistance. They may be threatening and belligerent, or in some cases, not able to communicate at all, other than dialing 911 with their last bit of strength, in an attempt to get help.”

KSP telecommunicators handle dispatch duties for Kentucky State Troopers, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers, Kentucky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officers and other emergency service agencies. Their duties include calling wrecker services, notifying channels of administration, running license plate and driver’s license numbers, running criminal histories and notifying family members while continuing to answer new calls and handling other radio traffic.

KSP employs 185 telecommunicators at its 16 posts throughout the state. Post 8 in Morehead has 10 telecommunicators on staff who handle calls from an 11 county area.

For more information or to apply for a telecommunication position with KSP, log on to the state personnel website at https://careers.ky.gov

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