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National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week
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“911, what is the location of your emergency?” Stephanie Thornton said, answering the emergency line at Vernon County Sheriff’s Office. The caller reported a two-vehicle collision in rural Vernon County. Thornton’s partner, Myrissa Dunfield, was also listening to the call and was already alerting the ambulance and deputies to the location of the wreck.
Thornton and Dunfield are two of nine public safety telecommunicators, or dispatchers, that serve Vernon County working out of a darkened room in the heart of the sheriff’s office. They are 911.
The week of April 9-15, 2017, marks National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
“Our dispatchers are the center of the emergency world for all of our first responders,” Sheriff Jason Mosher said. “They communicate vital information from the beginning of a call to the end of a call, making sure people get the help they need. I would like to join others in recognizing our dispatchers in Vernon County for the job they do every day.”
Dunfield’s workstation has five computer monitors, Thornton’s has seven. This allows them to talk to firefighters, the ambulance and law enforcement officers from a number of agencies; run license plate checks and criminal histories, and help first responders find an address using digital maps
Communications director Tonia Davis said, “I enjoy working with everyone — all the agencies — we’re like a big family. We all work really well together.”
Myrissa Dunfield, a relatively new dispatcher, said the most rewarding part of the job is getting to help people. Her partner, Stephanie Thornton, said she enjoys getting to make a difference.
A total of nine dispatchers work for Vernon County Sheriff’s Office which dispatches sheriff’s deputies, Nevada Police Department, Vernon County Ambulance District, Nevada Fire Department, and Vernon County’s rural fire departments.
Twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year — weekends and holidays included — they will be the first to answer the call when someone needs help.
On April 11, Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Colonel Sandra K. Karsten explained some of the history of public safety telecommunicators and thanked them for their service.
“This event honors the thousands of men and women throughout the United States who respond to emergency calls for assistance, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving, pre-arrival instructions to citizens of our great nation,” Karsten wrote. “The Missouri State Highway Patrol is proud to join in recognizing the dedication of our Patrol communications personnel as well as other public safety communications professionals throughout our state. We commend you on your tireless efforts to support field responders and provide critical services within the state of Missouri.
“In 1937 the Missouri Legislature approved plans to create various troop locations and radio stations around the state. It further approved the hire of sufficient radio personnel to man these stations. Fifteen radio personnel were ready by the time the buildings were up and operational to begin the task of providing communications. Today, the Patrol’s business lines, highway emergency lines, and radio systems are manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week by 153 communications operators and telecommunicators spread among our nine troop locations.
“These professionals are the first contact for citizens of Missouri, and those traveling through the state, who need routine or emergency services provided by the Patrol. These dedicated men and women also operate the crucial radio communications network for troopers, commercial vehicle enforcement, and specialist operations responding to highway emergencies. During natural disasters or other catastrophic events they, along with 25 radio technicians and eight communications technical and operations managers, form a statewide communications backbone necessary for effective emergency operations.
“I want to publicly express my gratitude to all public safety communications personnel,” said Col. Karsten. “They are an integral part of every law enforcement agency. I also want to commend the Patrol’s communications personnel for their professionalism. Every day, our communications employees exemplify our agency’s core values and strengthen the Patrol’s tradition of excellence.”