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National Public Safety Telecommunications Week is April 9-15, and Buncombe County is celebrating by profiling some of our 911 dispatch team. The demands of Public Safety Telecommunications make it a challenging and rewarding job. Being the first, first responder takes a special type of person, and Buncombe County is proud to highlight some of our amazing 911 staff in their own words. Thanks to all our Public Safety Telecommunicators for your dedication to helping keep our community safe.
Interested in joining the County’s Public Safety Telecommunications Team? Click here for more information.
Name: Jonathan McClellan Orbach
Position: Telecommunicator Supervisor
Years as a Public Safety Telecommunicator: 5.5 years
What made you want to become a Public Safety Telecommunicator? My previous job was interesting and ok in some respects but I never felt like I was doing something useful for society.
What is your favorite part of the job?
Helping people
What is a misconception of your job?
That when people call 911, we know exactly where they are or can find that easily. While sometimes we might have a good start on a location, this is the most important piece of information we need to send help and, we always go with what the caller says over any cellphone ping that might pop up.
What would you like the public to know about your job?
It is difficult but rewarding work!