Santa Barbara dispatchers receive unusual gift during week of recognition

Local dispatchers are being recognized during National Public Safey Telecommunicators Week.

Other first responders gave them gifts for their life-saving work.

In Santa Barbara County, dispatchers received a desk bicycle from the Deputy Sheriff and Sheriff Managers Associations.

Dispatchers can take turns riding the bike at their desks.

Communication Dispatcher Daisy Cortes said, “I think it is pretty awesome because, as you all know, our shift hours are pretty long, so we get to do some sort of exercise. It’s pretty cool.”

“It can go from 0-100, it can go from something to nothing, you can be sitting and there is nothing going on and then all of the sudden all the phones start ringing,” Communication Dispatcher Rebecca Orosco said.

They said the public can help them by knowing your location when you call 911 and by answering all the questions they’re required to ask when they’re sending help.