National Telecommunicators Week Recognizes KSP Dispatchers
KSP Telecommunicators Answered 493,186 Calls in 2018
Hazard, Ky. (April 15, 2019) Telecommunicators at Kentucky State Police Post 13 in Hazard will be recognized along with more than 200,000 of their fellow communicators nationwide April 14-20 during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
These silent heroes of public safety are more than just a voice on the other end of the line. They often save lives on a daily basis.
“KSP telecommunicators are challenged on a daily basis dealing with stressful situations, many that involve life and death, and they are expected to handle these situations with compassion, empathy and professionalism,” says Capt. Jennifer Sandlin, commander of KSP Post 13 in Hazard. “They must be at their BEST while dealing with people who may be at their WORST in many cases. People don’t usually call them for help when they are having their best day. By the nature of the business, they deal with people who have been victimized or need medical assistance. They may be threatening and belligerent, or in some cases, not able to communicate at all, other than dialing 911 with their last bit of strength, in an attempt to get help.”
“Telecommunicators provide a lifeline for the public as well as law enforcement and other emergency service professionals who rely on them for critical communications, information and follow up to ensure that they are and remain safe from harm,” she adds
KSP telecommunicators handle dispatch duties for Kentucky State Troopers, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers, Kentucky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officers and other emergency service agencies. Some of their duties include calling wrecker services, notifying channels of administration, running license plate and driver’s license numbers, running criminal histories and notifying family members while continuing to answer new calls and handling other radio traffic.
KSP employs 193 telecommunicators at its 16 posts throughout the state. In 2018, they handled 493,186 requests for assistance. Post 13 in Hazard has 16 telecommunicators on staff who handle calls from a 5-county area. Last year, they responded to 38,206 calls.
The Post 13 telecommunications team includes: Dispatch Supervisor Chris Hays and Dylan Baker of Jackson, Jason Williamson, Sherry Cole, John Stacy, J.J. Farler, Nick Danner and Karen Boggs of Hazard, Jeff Adams of Little Leatherwood, Angel Smith of Cornettsville, Miles Amburgey of Litt Carr, Chris Taylor of Hindman, Christopher Fugate of Chavies, Randall Hardin of Buckhorn, Cody Napier of Krypton, and Anngelica Ballard of Hyden.
For more information or to apply for a telecommunications position with KSP, log on to the state personnel website at www.personnel.ky.gov
The Kentucky State Police (KSP) is a law enforcement agency that prides itself on attracting the best individuals. KSP affords equal employment opportunity to all individuals, regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender or age. For a copy of the KSP Equal Employment Opportunity Plan, follow this link: http://www.kentuckystatepolice.org/pdf/EEOP_Short_Form.pdf