CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The city of Port Aransas is looking after their emergency first responders' mental health, specifically that of dispatchers. This is an extension of the existing policy already in place for first responders.
These high-stress jobs are necessary, but not at the cost of sacrificing the operators' mental health, said city officials.
April Zambrano has been working as a 911 operator for the Port Aransas Police Department for several years.
"There is a lot of calls that we do take, that can stick with us," she said.
Only a select few can answer the community’s desperate calls for help, and that’s where Zambrano helps as much as she can.
"The state finally recognizing us as first responders and that it does a toll or could take a toll on our mental health, having this bill enacted is phenomenal," said Zambrano.
Zambrano is referring to TX HB1486, which establishes a mental health leave policy for first responders including telecommunicators such as herself who experience a traumatic event while on the job.
James Stokes serves as the executive lieutenant in the Port Aransas Police Department. He believes legislation finally recognizes the value dispatchers carry on the force.
"They kind of take it in, and start everything when it's really fresh and raw," Stokes said. "And then they pass it off to somebody else to go and complete. And they never – or they don't get to – readily see the outcome of those events. The best thing that sums up a dispatcher is the saying that says, 'tell me your worst and I'll send you my best.'"
Zambrano is grateful for the state's assistance in answering her call for help.
"We do care about each and every caller that comes along and that we do want to ensure that all first responders whether it's fire, police or EMS, make it back safe home to their families," she said.
The policy is already in effect for the city of Port Aransas.
3NEWS contacted the Corpus Christi Police Department to see if they have a policy like this also in place. They said over the last 15 years their peer support team has been active, making sure both their officers' and dispatchers' well-being is cared for.
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