Lorain County proclaims 9-1-1 telecommunicators 'first responders,' urges state reclassification

Lorain County commissioners on Jan. 16 read a proclamation formally recognizing 9-1-1 telecommunicators as first responders in the county and called for a change in state classification to ensure dispatchers receive appropriate benefits and protections.

Kurt, the director of Lorain County 9-1-1, told the board that dispatchers in Ohio are currently classified as clerical or administrative staff and said that reclassification would help secure mental-health supports, retirement benefits and legal protections. "9-1-1 dispatchers are the first point of contact during every emergency," Kurt said, citing their role in guiding CPR over the phone, coordinating police, fire and medical response, and managing active-shooter and large-scale incidents.

A county commissioner read the proclamation describing telecommunicators' duties — from detecting critical cues in callers' voices to providing life-saving instruction before responders arrive — and noted the cumulative psychological toll of repeated exposure to traumatic calls. The proclamation states that formal recognition is “not merely symbolic” but a step toward equity, retention and wellness within emergency services.

After the reading, commissioners invited telecommunicators and staff for a group photograph and offered brief remarks of appreciation. No formal vote to change state law was recorded; the board’s action was a local proclamation and an expression of support to be conveyed to state lawmakers in Columbus.

Next steps: the commissioners and county 9-1-1 leadership said they would continue to advocate at the state level for statutory reclassification so dispatchers can access additional resources and benefits.