Part Three of Three: Turning Support Into Action
A Three-Part Look at Life Behind the Headset from Casey D. Howe, veteran 911 Dispatcher and Advocate, Follow Howe’s effort on Facebook
Over the first two parts of this series, I have shared what 911 dispatchers carry and why an optional 25-year retirement plan matters. Now I want to talk about what people can do to help.
This issue is not somewhere far away in Albany. It is here.
When you call 911 in Allegany County, the person who answers may be your neighbor. They may know your family, your road or the volunteer department being sent to help you. They may be dispatching a police officer, firefighter, EMT or paramedic they know personally.
We live in a rural county where public safety depends on people showing up for one another. Many of our firefighters and EMS providers are volunteers. Our law enforcement officers, dispatchers and emergency responders work with limited resources across a large area. When one part of that system is struggling, it affects everyone.
That is why local voices matter.
The New York State Senate and Assembly have passed S.7635-B and A.9162-A, legislation that would allow participating public employers to offer eligible 911 dispatchers and emergency communications professionals an optional 25-year retirement plan. We are asking Governor Kathy Hochul to support it and sign it when it reaches her desk.
The most helpful thing a person can do is contact the governor and explain, in their own words, why they support the legislation.
You do not have to be a dispatcher. You may be a family member, a first responder, an elected official or simply someone who has called 911 and understands that a real person was on the other end of the phone.
We built NY911Retirement.org to make that process easier. The website explains the legislation and includes a letter generator that helps people create a personal message to the governor. It does not send one identical form letter for everyone. It helps each person explain who they are and why the issue matters to them.
Visit https://ny911retirement.org, choose the roles that describe you, generate your letter and send it through the governor’s official contact form. The entire process only takes a few minutes.
A short personal message can be powerful. A dispatcher can explain what years of emergency calls have done to them. A spouse can explain what the job brings home. A firefighter, EMT or police officer can explain why experienced dispatchers are essential to everyone working in the field. A community member can simply say that the people answering 911 deserve a fair retirement after 25 years of service.
Then ask someone else to do the same.
Share the website with your family, coworkers, department, union, local organization or anyone who supports public safety. Follow NY 911 Retirement on Facebook and Instagram, and share the campaign’s posts so they reach people outside our immediate circle.
That last part matters. A social media reaction helps, but a letter to the governor is the action we need most. The goal is not just to collect likes or views. The goal is to show that people across New York State understand the work dispatchers do and want this legislation signed.
Local organizations can help too. Fire departments, EMS agencies, law enforcement associations, labor organizations, county and municipal leaders, and community groups can publicly support the legislation and encourage their members to act. A statement does not have to be long. It only has to be clear.
This should not be a political or partisan issue. When someone calls 911, we do not ask how they vote. We ask where they are, what happened and what help they need. Supporting the people who answer those calls should bring us together in the same way.
I know people are busy. I know there are countless causes asking for attention. I am asking for a few minutes because those few minutes can help protect the people who have spent years giving their time, nights, holidays and emotional strength to protect everyone else.
I am also asking people to look beyond the headset. Dispatchers are not nameless voices in a dark room. We are parents, spouses, friends and neighbors. We coach teams, volunteer in our communities, attend school events when work allows and try to be present for our families even when part of us is still carrying the last call.
And the phone rings again.
I have watched dispatchers bring calm into complete chaos. I have seen them answer the phone on one of the worst days of their own lives and still help a stranger through theirs. I have also seen what happens when the weight becomes too much and nobody knows how to talk about it.
That is why this is personal to me. It is why I have kept pushing this legislation and why we created the NY 911 Retirement campaign.
The people of the Southern Tier have always understood the value of public service. We know what it means to answer when a neighbor needs help. Right now, 911 dispatchers across New York State need their neighbors to answer the call for them.
Please visit https://ny911retirement.org. Learn about the legislation. Send a letter to Governor Hochul. Share the campaign and ask one more person to do the same.
We will continue answering when you need us.
Now we are asking you to stand with us.
Casey D. Howe is a supervising emergency services dispatcher in Allegany County and an advocate with NY 911 Retirement. The views expressed are his own. Read part 1 and 2 of this series below:
