WASHINGTON — A group of Southern California 911 dispatchers traveled to Washington Wednesday calling on legislators to approve two bills they believe can help save more lives in the state. They’re afraid their title and their technology could hinder what’s best for everyone who may call in an emergency.

Two dispatchers said they’re passionate about this change because essentially now, they said dispatchers are considered federal employees, considered to have a job no different than nine-to-five desk worker, filing paperwork. 

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This makes them susceptible to being forced to go on furlough if the government shuts down, which will leave phones ringing and the community in danger. But more than that they say this profession needs more attention from lawmakers.

Margie Gemende, a Riverside County dispatch manager, said dispatchers are trained to give emergency medical help and to coordinate situations with law enforcement. 

“The most happiest [call] was when I helped,” said Gemende. “I believe she was eight or nine, do the Heimlich on her dog. Her dog was choking on a biscuit and she was so hysterical and to be able to calm her down and to be able to walk her through doing the Heimlich on her dog was great because she was so happy.”

Now, Democratic Representative Norma Torres, of Ontario, who was a dispatcher for over 17 years in California, said this profession must get the respect it deserve by changing its federal classification from ‘office and administrative support’ to ‘first responders’ in her 911 SAVES Act. 

“The job classification was created years and years ago,” said Torres. “When we first launched the three-digit number for our constituents to utilize during an emergency. The stress level that they have to work under, not knowing what type of call they’re going to answer when that phone rings.”

But Gemende said there’s another problem: Many dispatch centers across southern California need technology upgrades as soon as possible. They’re also advocating for the Next Generation 911 Act meant to deploy new systems across the country. Gemende said emergency calls are coming in via texts, and videos, and not just phone calls.

She said they desperately need more accurate locators and recalls an instance where better technology may have saved a life. 

“Actually I was the supervisor on duty and my dispatcher took the call of a female who had been taking, I believe it was by her ex-boyfriend and thrown in the trunk and it was unfortunate at the time that our technology or ability to find out where that cell locator was to be able to find her; we couldn’t find her,” said Gemende. “I don’t know, almost 12 years later, I still don’t know what happened to her.”

The Next Generation 911 Act is sponsored by another California lawmaker, Anna Eshoo of Palo Alto, and would authorize $12 billion in federal funding to help state and local governments updated their technology. 

Torres’ bill wouldn’t cost anything to change the classification of dispatchers and has bipartisan support from 37 Republicans. She just reintroduced the act after it failed to pass Congress last year. Torres’ bill just got out of committee and is waiting for a vote in the House.