Commission proclaims National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and Child Abuse Prevention Month; SOS director urges community support

The Coffee County Commission on March 30 adopted two proclamations recognizing public safety telecommunicators and child-abuse-prevention efforts.

The board agreed to correct wording on the public-safety proclamation to reference "county" rather than "city," then unanimously approved a proclamation designating April 12–18, 2026 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Coffee County to honor dispatch staff. "Public safety telecommunicators are the single vital link for our police officers, firefighters and paramedics," the proclamation reads; commissioners agreed to collect signatures and circulate the corrected document for signature.

Following that item, Jenny Samples, SOS Child Advocacy Center director, addressed the commission asking for the county's support to proclaim April as National Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month. "Prevention is key," Samples told commissioners, asking residents to "see something, say something" and to support local crisis services. The proclamation noting the county's commitment to prevention and awareness passed 5-0 and will also be signed.

Commissioners thanked Samples for her work and acknowledged the county's role in supporting child advocacy and victim services.