EMERGENCY DISPATCHERS WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS FIRST RESPONDERS UNDER A BILL THAT PASSED THE ILLINOIS SENATE THIS WEEK.

MOLINE SENATOR NEIL ANDERSON SAYS IT’S A SIMPLE CHANGE, BUT ONE THAT RECOGNIZES THE CHALLENGING JOB OF DISPATCHERS.

SENATOR ANDERSON IS ALSO A FIREFIGHTER AND KNOWS HOW DIFFICULT THE JOB OF TAKING EMERGENCY CALLS CAN BE. HE WANTS DISPATCHERS TO BE BETTER RECOGNIZED FOR THEIR EFFORTS.

ANDERSON SAYS BESIDES THE TITLE CHANGE, THIS WOULD LET DISPATCHERS ACCESS THE SOME OF THE SAME BENEFITS FIRST RESPONDERS RECEIVE. THE BILL NOW AWAITS A VOTE IN THE HOUSE.