On Saturday, April 11, 2009, the Sacramento Police Department and the Organization of Public Safety Telecommunicators (O.P.S.T.) will honor dispatchers at the 13^th Annual Dispatcher Appreciation Awards Banquet.  The O.P.S.T. is comprised of 17 local agencies from the counties of Sacramento, Yolo, El Dorado, and Placer. 

The annual banquet is the only event in the four counties that specifically recognizes the exceptional performances of 9-1-1 dispatchers and call takers.  The banquet is a special activity held during the National Telecommunicators Week.

The Sacramento Police Department recipients are Jennifer Smith, a four year veteran, for "Dispatcher Of The Year" and Sandra Hazel, a twenty-four year veteran, for "Supervisor Of The Year". 

The Sacramento Police Department Communications Center received nearly 800,000 calls last year.  Of those, nearly 550,000 were entered as calls for service.  Dispatchers and call takers are often times the communities' first contact with the police department.  As such, they provide an immeasurable service to the community and to this department.  Congratulations to this year's recipients, and a special thanks to all dispatchers and call takers for all of their hard work.