AUBURN – The Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department celebrated National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week April 12 to 18.

Sponsored by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International and celebrated annually, the week honors the thousands of men and women who answer emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance to the world’s citizens.

Recent events have highlighted the work of telecommunications professionals at the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department.

Several telecommunicators from the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department were recognized during the National Emergency Number Association Conference in South Portland last week. Dispatcher Timothy Stevens and Dispatcher Carole Bradbury were nominated for the Critical Incident of the Year award for their role in the Harvest Hill Farms hayride accident. This award is presented to an individual, team, center or centers, who by deed or act, make an extremely noteworthy contribution which results in the successful handling of a major incident or combination of incidents beyond the average or normal activity level.

Bethany “Buffy” Gammon received the Silent Hero Award for the Androscoggin County Communications Center. The award is for exceptional professionalism in the field of emergency communications and acknowledges the special contributions of a person whose daily performance of their duties is an inspiration and example to others.

The Androscoggin County Regional Communications Center is a Public Safety Answering Point for emergency 911 calls for 11 of the 14 towns in Androscoggin County. The Androscoggin RCC directly dispatches for the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department, Livermore Fire Department, Livermore Falls Police and Fire Departments, Mechanic Falls Police and Fire Departments, Minot Fire Department, and the Turner Fire & Rescue Departments. The Androscoggin RCC employs nine full-time dispatchers and eight current part-time dispatchers.