This entire week has been devoted to the great emergency telecommunicators who are the link between the public and the first responders here. While covering news, WGNS sees your professionalism, dedication, and compassion every day and feels that you should be saluted every day.

It could be said that with the "Stay At Home" orders brought about by COVID-19, it's a tough time for celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, and we understand. We also think that it's the perfect time, because public safety telecommunicators are rising to the challenge and doing what they do best.

Whether its a fire, ambulance or police call--the telecommunicator who answers the 911 line, becomes your link to the first responder. Often, they become the link between "life or death". They become the assuring voice that keeps you calm and gives life-saving advice while awaiting help to arrive.

Public safety telecommunicators are awesome all of the time, but never more so than during a disaster. The current situation with COVID-19 is a classic example. While most people are staying home, telecommunicators are going to work and putting this community first.

WGNS thanks the telecommunicators who are involved with:

• Rutherford County Sheriffs Office
• Rutherford County Emergency Medical Services
• Rutherford County Fire Rescue
• Murfreesboro Police Department
• Murfreesboro Fire and Rescue
• Middle Tennessee State University Police
• Alvin C. York V.A. Police
• Smyrna Police Department
• Smyrna Fire Rescue
• La Vergne Police Department
• La Vergne Fire Department
• Eagleville Police Department
• Volunteer Fire Departments in Rutherford County