D. Jeremy DeMar, Director of Springfield Emergency Communications (SEC), has been invited to speak at a press conference in support of the 911 Saves Act, a zero-cost legislative fix to reclassify Public Safety Telecommunicators as “Protective Service Occupations” in the Office of Management and Budget Standard Occupational Classification. The press conference will be held Thursday, March 7th at 3:30 p.m. at the House Triangle (East Front) of the United States Capitol in Washington, DC.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno lauded Director DeMar, who took over Springfield’s dispatch center in December of 2017 stating, “This is quite a compliment to Jeremy and our City as we continue to stay ‘cutting edge’ on our first line of public safety measures.”
Director DeMar stated, “I am both proud and humbled to be representing the professional men and women of Springfield Emergency Communications, the City of Springfield, and the Massachusetts Communications Supervisors Association (MCSA) at the introduction of this historic legislation for the 9-1-1 profession. 9-1-1 professionals are an integral part of the public safety process nationally, and here in Springfield. The “9-1-1 SAVES ACT” serves to officially recognize the critical services these unsung heroes provide daily to our citizens and first responders.”
Director DeMar will travel to Washington, DC to take part in the announcement along with three other public safety telecommunication professionals from Massachusetts. They are Charles Goodwin, Training Corrdinatior and Supervisor for 9-1-1 Communications Center in Natick, and Vice President of MCSA, Erin Hasting, Mass State Police Dispatcher in Braintree and Lee Ann Delp, Operations Manager of the Essex County Regional Emergency Communications Center. All are members of MCSA.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the only individual state being represented in this announcement. They will join U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (CA-35), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Donna Shalala (FL-27), Federal Communications Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel and leading public safety industry experts and advocates to introduce the bipartisan bill.
According to the office of Representative Torres, the federal government currently classifies these occupations as administrative/clerical in nature, which is inaccurate and a disservice to the lifesaving work and dedication of these professionals.
