Second week of April recognized as Telecommunications Week in Illinois | News

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WREX) — April 14 through 20 has been designated as Telecommunications Week in Illinois. This is in recognition of the role telecommunicators play in public safety.

“Our telecommunicators are the first to answer the call and serve as a vital part of our response during any emergency. The information that they provide to responders is critical and helps us understand the situation we are responding to and allows us to better prepare to help once we arrive,” said Illinois State Fire Marshal James A. Rivera. “Thank you for all that you do to help someone on their worst day feel comforted and reassured that help is on the way.”

The Telecommunication Services Bureau (TSB) employs approximately 100 public safety telecommunicators.

These staff members provide routine and emergency communication services to law enforcement agencies at the state, federal, county, and municipal levels.

In 2023, TSB telecommunicators handled over 530,000 calls for service.

The TSB maintains a network of six communications centers across the state.

“Telecommunicators are critical to saving lives when seconds matter,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “This April, we honor those calming voices who answer the call, and recognize the vital role they play in ensuring efficient and effective emergency response in times of crisis.”

Each year, the second week of April is designated as a time to recognize telecommunicators.

This week-long event began in 1981.

Read Governor Pritzker’s proclamation below:

In Winnebago County, Sheriff Gary Caruana, is working to honor these first responders who make their jobs possible.

“They’re unsung heroes. They’re behind the scenes and no one ever really understands that. They see the officers out in front or the detectives or whatever’s going on and the scene, whatever the scene may be. But they don’t realize that there’s somebody behind that scene,” Caruana said. 

Nicole Kulpa is one of the Winnebago County Telecommunicators and cannot imagine working in a different career.

“I wanted to do something that would help make a difference in this community. I didn’t really feel comfortable being an officer out there, so I got into this profession,” Kulpa said.

Kulpa became a telecommunicator almost a decade ago after being encouraged by her father, who works at the county jail and learned about the job openings. 

“I was like, I’ll try it out, you know? I never thought that eight years, I would still be here and here I am, and I can’t imagine doing anything else,” she said.

However, the job has not come without its share of challenges as Kulpa has now advanced into a supervisor.

“A lot more stressful I would say. Coming in, a lot of people don’t really know what all this job entails. It definitely is not what’s portrayed on tv and things like that that you see,” Kulpa said.

Despite the hundreds of twelve-hour shifts, talking community members through both safety and medical emergencies, Kulpa said if she could go back, she’d do it all exactly the same.

“I would do this job 100 times over. I feel like job gives me a sense of, I’m coming in everyday and making a difference in someone’s day,” she said.

Moving forward, Kulpa plans to make this a forever career.

“I’m here for life. I can’t imagine another career that I would rather do,” Kulpa said. 

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