For National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, which runs this week from April 13 to 19, Manitoba RCMP are proud to recognize and honour the hard-working and dedicated employees who serve in the Operational Communications Centre (OCC).
RCMP report that in the OCC, both call-takers, and dispatchers stand ready to serve Manitobans, seven days a week, 365 days of the year to ensure there is always someone to answer the call if someone is in need. In 2024, the OCC received a total of over 210,000 emergency calls and answered over 353,000 calls in total.
On average, telecom employees dispatch 425 files a day to detachments across the province.
“Our telecom operators are the calm voice in the chaos, the first point of contact for Manitobans in moments of fear, urgency, and uncertainty, as well as the lifeline and most important backup for our regular members in the course of their duties,” said Assistant Commissioner Scott McMurchy, Commanding Officer of the Manitoba RCMP. “Remaining calm and professional in times of crisis each of them guides, supports, and saves lives – most often without ever being seen. I thank them for their incredible and important work.”
Currently, there are a total of 63 employees working in the OCC, with another eight trainees.
Recently, the Province of Manitoba announced funding for ten additional positions in the OCC which will benefit not only Manitobans, but also the RCMP officers who are on duty each and serving our communities.
The next class for new call-takers will start in June 2025, and is comprised of six weeks in the classroom along with hands-on learning, followed by one-on-one coaching on the floor before graduating.
