Team of Johnson County dispatchers honored at regional 9-1-1 event

The 3rd Annual Outstanding Performance Awards were presented at the appreciation event

The Kansas City Regional 9-1-1 System honored emergency communications personnel responsible for processing 9-1-1 calls during its Telecommunicators Appreciation Celebration last Friday, April 15. Paula Arnote, Marie Athearn, Marlynda Dixon, Kate Neal-Dorsey and Grady Victory, Johnson County Emergency Communications Center, received the award for Outstanding Team Performance in a Critical Incident during the 3rd Annual Outstanding Performance Awards presented at Friday’s event.

The Outstanding Performance Awards selection committee reviewed and selected nominations from 9-1-1 dispatch center supervisors and managers throughout the region.

On May 22, 2010, the Johnson County Emergency Communications Center received a call from an alarm company regarding a residential fire. While the incident began as routine, it became apparent that it was anything but typical.

Tragically, the Shawnee Fire Department suffered the heartbreaking loss of Firefighter John Glaser that evening. Victory — who was handling the radio traffic — maintained his composure, a level head, professionalism and command in his voice throughout the incident. Athearn who was the supervisor on duty that night, worked to get help and resources, including a chaplain and a team of counselors for the fire agencies involved and for her communications personnel. She was the voice of reason, calm and comfort during a period of time that could have easily deteriorated into chaos.

Neal-Dorsey, Dixon and Arnote were responsible for managing all of the other call activity and normal duties including managing fire and EMS resources in the county. Although these three individuals were not working as closely on this incident, without their composure during an overwhelming situation and their hard work to handle other events that evening, Athearn and Victory could not have devoted their full attention to the critical incident. Throughout, this team of individuals showed leadership, dedication, commitment and grace.

“Incidents like this one are what we train and prepare for, but hope to never have to experience,” said Ellen Wernicke, deputy director of operations and personnel for the communications center.

“An interesting aspect of our job is the fact that at any given time a call could come in or a situation could happen where we are completely out of our comfort zone,” said Neal-Dorsey. “How we handle that call or situation is what exposes our true capabilities as dispatchers, and our level of proficiency at our job.”

Chief Jeff Hudson of the Shawnee Fire Department spoke during the awards ceremony and said that this team of dispatchers could not have handled the situation any better.

2011 Outstanding Performance Award Recipients:

Everyday Hero Award: Cindy Staton, Miami County Sheriff’s Office
Outstanding Individual Performance in a Critical Incident: Mike Babcock, Johnson County Emergency Communications Center; Ben Watts, Lenexa Police Department
Outstanding Team Performance in a Critical Incident: Paula Arnote, Marie Athearn, Marlynda Dixon, Kate Neal-Dorsey and Grady Victory, Johnson County Emergency Communications Center
Outstanding Past Performance: Kelly Ray and Della Spain, Platte County Sheriff’s Office