Public Safety Communications Outreach

TELECOMMUNICATORS APPRECIATION CELEBRATION and OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE AWARDS

On Friday, April 14, 2023, the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) recognized 911 emergency dispatchers and calltakers across the Kansas City region for the crucial role they play in public safety. The 26th Annual Telecommunicators Appreciation Celebration (TAC) and Outstanding Performance Awards honors telecommunicators who consistently perform above and beyond the call of duty, demonstrate exemplary individual and team performance in a critical incident and have made a significant contribution to the field of public safety.
View TAC and OPA photos>>

2023 honorees include the following:

Everyday Hero Award
Deputy Heather Beabout, Johnson County, Kansas, Sheriff's Office

Outstanding Individual Performance in a Critical Incident  
Amy Moseley, Shawnee, Kansas, Police Department

Outstanding Team Performance in a Critical Incident (two to five positions)
Jennifer Payne, Richelle Scarborough, Beth Buffington and Ann Strobbe – North Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department

Outstanding Team Performance in a Critical Incident (six or more positions) 
Marlynda Dixon, Morgan Lindbloom, Jenna Hale and Cameron Harris – Johnson County, Kansas, Emergency Communications Center

Outstanding Public Service Answering Point Leader
Ryan Ford, Lenexa, Kansas, Police Department

Outstanding Multi-Agency Performance 
Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Police Department; Independence, Missouri, Police Department; Blue Springs, Missouri, Police Department; and the Missouri State Highway Patrol

Lifetime Achievement Award 
Master Deputy Tamara Glasper-Adell, Johnson County, Kansas, Sheriff’s Office

Serving 11 counties, MARC is the coordinating agency for the Kansas City Regional 911 System. The regional system, which handles more than 1.6 million emergency calls each year, includes Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties in Missouri, and Atchison, Johnson, Leavenworth, Linn, Miami and Wyandotte counties in Kansas. Committees and task forces comprised of local government representatives coordinate the 911 system, which is served by 40 public safety answering points.

PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOLS

A child who knows how and when to dial 911, and who is prepared to answer a calltaker’s questions, can save precious moments in an emergency situation.

911 educational materials for children ages 5–8, including an instructional DVD featuring Cell Phone Sally, are available free of charge to elementary school teachers throughout MARC's ten-county region. Public safety communications personnel and volunteers may be available to conduct 911 school programs for your class.

The Kansas City Regional 911 Heroes Award program recognizes and rewards youth who demonstrate knowledge of the proper use of 911 by performing some heroic action during the course of the emergency/call. 911 Heroes must meet the following criteria:

• The 911 call must be initiated by the youth.
• The youth must have performed some heroic action in the course of the emergency that contributed to:
  • Saving a life
  • Significantly reducing property loss
  • Apprehending a criminal and/or stopping a crime
• The program recognizes youth age 16 or younger; however, exceptions may be considered under special circumstances.
• The agency personnel submitting the nomination should complete the hero nomination form, including a brief summary of the incident. If possible, a recording of the 911 call should accompany the hero nomination form.