As another National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week comes to a close, we wish to take the opportunity to highlight the events and service of our 911 Communications professionals:

COUNTY ISSUES OFFICIAL PROCLAMATION FOR NPSTW

To kick off the week, our Communications staff were presented with an official Proclamation from the Board of Supervisors by Chairman Robert Henke, declaring April 14th through April 20th to be National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Washington County, in honor of the men and women whose diligence and professionalism help to keep our county, public safety field personnel, citizens and visitors safe. 

Our annual Department Awards, Years of Service Awards and Meritorious Service Awards were issued and our team members were recognized as noted:

YEARS OF SERVICE AWARDS

• 15 Years of Service: Communications Officer Jason Lloyd
• 20 Years of Service: Communications Officer Leslie Gordon
• 25 Years of Service: Communications Officer Arthur L. Porlier, Jr.

MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARDS

• Meritorious Service Award: Supervising Communications Officer Walter Stimpson was issued a Meritorious Service Award for his role as the CO handling a distraught, suicidal subject threatening harm to themselves, others and the responding law enforcement officers in November, 2018. SCO Stimpson was able to keep the caller as calm as possible until law enforcement officers arrived, and continued talking with the subject until a weapon was secured and the subject taken into custody.
• "Stork" Award: Communications Officer Regina Ladd was issued a Stork Pin Award for her role as the CO handling the birth of a baby in December, 2018. CO Ladd remained on the phone with the caller and mother, walking them through the Emergency Medical Dispatch process as they continued driving to the hospital. The baby was born in the vehicle as they pulled in to the hospital complex.
• Meritorious Service Award: Communications Officer Daniel Callahan was issued a Meritorious Service Award for his role as the CO handling a distraught, suicidal subject threatening harm to themselves and others in December, 2018. CO Callahan was able to build a rapport with the caller, keeping the caller as calm as possible until law enforcement officers arrived. The subject was united with law enforcement without any harm to those involved.

DEPARTMENT AWARDS

• “Rookie of the Year": Communications Officer Madisen Coso
• "Most Improved Communicator": Communications Officer Courtney Sady
• "Communications Training Officer of the Year": Communications Officers / (CTOs) Arthur Porlier and Regina Ladd
• "Communications Officer of the Year": Communications Officer Nicholas Talmage 

The annual awardees were selected based upon their performance during the past year and voted on by the Communications Center staff.

Throughout the week the 911 Communications Center team had a number of our elected officials and partner agencies who expressed their support for the work they do and/or stopped by for a visit to see what it’s like behind the scenes and “under the headset.”  We are very appreciative of the support for our team and the interest in what they do to help those in need and support our public safety partners in the field.

We wish to thank all of our Communications staff for their dedication and hard work throughout the last year. Coordinating emergencies and communications in Public Safety services is a task like few others and takes a dedicated team to be the lifeline for our residents, visitors, and public safety field partners we serve proudly.