Home LOCAL NEWS 100 Club of Lamar County expands coverage to dispatchers

100 Club of Lamar County expands coverage to dispatchers

by MyParisTexas
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With dispatchers now being classified as first responders, the 100 Club of Lamar County recently expanded their coverage of benefits to Lamar County dispatchers.

“Our unseen dispatchers are our voices of hope when we need hope the most,” stated 100 Club of Lamar County President Amanda Willows. “While helping our citizens, they are also watching over our police, EMS, and firemen by getting them to the scene and doing all they can to ensure the scenes are safe for them. We want them to know that we appreciate the risks they take to care for us all.”

In 2019, Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1090 which changed the State definition of a first responder. This new law now classifies dispatchers in the same way as EMS personnel, firefighters, and police.

In response to the new law, the 100 Club of Lamar County has expanded its coverage of benefits to the dispatchers of Lamar County Sheriff’s Office and Paris Police Department. If a dispatcher loses their life in the line of duty, the 100 Club of Lamar County will provide their immediate family with a rapid payment of $10,000 to help them through such a difficult time.

“In an emergency, the first person a citizen speaks with is the Emergency Dispatcher. In the blink of an eye, they have to know: What is needed, who all to send, how many to send, what jurisdiction/area provides the service needed, and many other things stacked on that. They will be on the phone, on the computer, talking on multiple radio channels to different first responders, and trying to keep the person on the line calm and talk them through what they can do to help the situation themselves until help arrives. The stress can be heavier than you can imagine. When I was the supervisor of the 911 Center for Paris PD, I saw firsthand how they handled call after call without asking for a break.. just doing what had to be done and saving lives. Emergency Dispatchers are true First Responders and the 100 Club of Lamar County is honored to include them as such,” said Jimmy Steed, Vice President of the 100 Club of Lamar County.

If you would like to become a member of the 100 Club of Lamar County or renew your membership, please visit our website at http://the100clublamarcounty.org

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