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Richard Howard, Supervisor of Dispatch Operations
SODO Richard Howard
On December 13, 2011, Supervisor of Dispatch Operations Richard Howard was working as a call taker when he received a call from a male who had shot himself in the shoulder while attempting suicide. SDO Howard verified the incident location and sent the call for dispatch. He then continued to gather necessary information for the police while providing emergency medical dispatch instructions to the victim.
Because the victim was alone and armed police did not enter the residence for a lengthy time due to officer safety concerns. This was especially stressful for SDO Howard as the victim could hear help outside and was asking why they would not enter the residence. In addition, with his EMS training SDO Howard could recognize changes in the victim’s level of consciousness and shock symptoms.
During the entire length of this incident, of which SDO Howard was on the phone approximately 90 minutes he was answering questions from the victim as well as police and EMS dispatchers. The victim was eventually able to receive the help he needed.
SDO Howard’s compassion and professionalism ultimately led to a safe outcome for all involved. Therefore, Supervisor of Dispatch Operations Richard Howard has been selected as Employee of the Month for December 2011.
Bruce McQuiston, Public Safety Dispatcher
Kimberly Murphy, Public Safety Dispatcher
PSD Bruce McQuiston
On November 18, 2011 Public Safety Dispatcher Bruce McQuiston was working as a call taker when he received a call from a frantic female reporting that she believed her boyfriend had committed suicide. After obtaining the necessary information and sending the call to dispatch PSD McQuiston stayed on the line with the caller attempting to calm her. Even though the caller was very distraught and scared he was able to persuade her to go outside and check on the status of her boyfriend who was in a running vehicle covered by a tarp. PSD McQuiston remained on the line with the caller until emergency service personnel arrived on the scene.
Although the outcome of the incident was not favorable PSD McQuiston’s calm demeanor and professionalism contributed to providing the best opportunity for a positive outcome of this call. Therefore, In recognition of your substantial contribution to the Department of Emergency Communications, Public Safety Dispatcher Bruce McQuiston has been selected Employee of the Month for November 2011.
PSD Kimberly Murphy
On November 4, 2011 at approximately 0527 hours Public Safety Dispatcher Kimberly Murphy were working as the West Zone dispatcher when a Village of Baldwinsville Police Unit saw a suspicious vehicle near a business complex at Syracuse Street and Mildred Avenue in the Village. The suspect vehicle fled the scene leading the Baldwinsville unit and several other units on a vehicle pursuit that lasted fifteen minutes and traveled through several jurisdictions. During this pursuit PSD Murphy remained calm at all times, controlling the air effectively and updating vehicle locations. She also provided units with the vehicle registration information.
The end result of this chase was the suspects being taken into custody without incident. Law enforcement later contacted the 9-1-1 Center to compliment the work PSD Murphy did during this incident. Her calm demeanor and professionalism contributed to the positive outcome of this incident.
In recognition of her substantial contribution to the Department of Emergency Communications Public Safety Dispatcher Kimberly Murphy is selected as Employee of the Month for November 2011.
Nicole Geswaldo, Public Safety Telecommunicator
PST Nicole Geswaldo
On September 14, 2011, Public Safety Telecommunicator Nicole Geswaldo was working as a call-taker when she received a call from a female regarding a two-week-old infant that was not breathing. PST Geswaldo obtained address information and sent the call for dispatch. She then stayed on the line with the caller instructing her how to perform CPR on the infant. The caller seemed on the verge of losing control of herself several times during the call but each time PST Geswaldo managed to keep her calm and focused on providing assistance to the infant.
PST Geswaldo did an outstanding job of “coaching” the caller through pre-arrival instructions for a two-week old infant. Her calm demeanor and professionalism contributed to providing the best opportunity for a positive outcome of this call.
In recognition of her substantial contribution to the Department of Emergency Communications, it is a pleasure to inform Public Safety Telecommunicator Nicole Geswaldo of her selection as Employee of the Month for September 2011.
Steve Salmons, Supervisor of Dispatch Operations
SODO Steve Salmons
On August 4th, Supervisor of Dispatch Operations Steve Salmons was working as a call-taker when he received a call from a female stating that her 18-year-old daughter was in labor. SDO Salmons immediately gathered all pertinent information from the scene and sent the call for dispatch. He then stayed on the line with the caller and began giving pre-arrival instructions. Despite that fact that the caller was somewhat frantic SDO Salmons remained calm in helping her to assist her daughter. When it became apparent that the child’s birth was imminent, SDO Salmons coached the caller on helping her daughter with the delivery of the baby. Eventually a healthy baby was delivered before emergency medial personnel arrived on the scene.
SDO Salmons’ calm demeanor and professionalism contributed to the positive outcome of the call. Therefore, in recognition of his substantial contribution to the Department of Emergency Communications Supervisor of dispatch Operations Steve Salmons has been selected Employee of the Month for August 2011.
Michael Gallagher, Public Safety Dispatcher
PSD Michael Gallagher
On July 2nd, Public Safety Dispatcher Michael Gallagher was working as a call-taker when he received a call from a female stating that her 16-year-old son was on a boat cruise on the Seneca River with his father. The caller was not on-scene, but had received a phone call from her husband reporting there was a medical emergency on the boat involving their son. To compound the problem the father was the Captain of the boat.
PSD Gallagher called the husband who was piloting the vessel and coordinated with him a location for the Emergency responders to meet the boat so they could administer medical attention to the ill party. Circumstances also dictated the captain could only bring the boat in for a specific amount of time due to the size of the boat and other logistical problems with docking the boat in a location not conducive to docking a craft of that size. The duration of the call was approximately 20 minutes.
PSD Gallagher’s calm demeanor and professionalism contributed to the positive outcome of the call. In recognition of his substantial contribution to the Department of Emergency Communications, Public Safety Dispatcher Michael Gallagher was selected Employee of the Month for July 2011.
April Smith, Supervisor of Dispatch Operations
SODO April Smith
Supervisor of Dispatcher Operations April Smith has been very involved and dedicated to supporting the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO). Over the course of years, she has attended APCO conferences around the country, often at her own expense, serving as a volunteer, participating in committee meetings, and attending first class training. She successfully completed APCO's professional leadership program and is one of the small percentage of people in this discipline that have received the professional designation of Registered Public Safety Leader (RPL), a formal and prestigious recognition of excellence within the public safety communications profession. SDO Smith has served on a number of high profile APCO committees and is currently the East Coast representative to the APCO Institute Advisory Committee, serving as a technology and policy advisor to the Institute and Board of Directors. She was involved in developing the "Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Telecommunicators" as part of the New York Law Enforcement Dispatcher Occupational Analysis Validation Panel; and in developing "Core Competencies and Minimum Training Standards for Public Safety Communications Training Coordinators" as a member of the New York/Connecticut Training Coordinator Occupational Analysis Validation Panel.
SDO Smith’s dedication and commitment to the public safety communications profession, her mentoring and involving her co-workers in APCOs programs, and her distinguished representation of and contributions to the Onondaga County Department of Emergency Communications make the 9-1-1 Center a better organization and a better place to work for her co-workers. Therefore, Supervisor of Dispatch Operations April Smith has been selected Employee of the Month for June 2011.
Mary Anne Calogero, Supervisor of Dispatch Operations
Shannon Manley, Public Safety Telecommunicator
Chris Strong, Public Safety Shift Supervisor
SODO Mary Anne Calogero
During the Department of Emergency Communication’s recent CALEA re-accreditation process, Supervisor of Dispatch Operations Mary Anne Calogero served as our Agency’s Assistant Accreditation Manager. This comprised preparing the Standard Files, gathering and organizing the necessary proofs to demonstrate compliance with the standards over the three-year self-assessment cycle, and availing herself to the CALEA Assessment Team during their on-site audit in December 2010. Subsequent to the on-site assessment, SODO Calogero prepared and participated in the agency review hearing at the CALEA Conference in Bethesda, MD.
The result of SODO Calogero’s dedication and devotion to this task was our agency achieving re-accreditation at the Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The professionalism and teamwork she displayed were instrumental in the Onondaga County Department of Emergency Communications achieving re-accreditation from CALEA.
In recognition of her substantial contribution to the Department of Emergency Communications, Supervisor of Dispatch Operations Mary Anne Calogero has been selected Employee of the Month for April 2011.
PST Shannon Manley
On April 26, 2011 at approximately 2304 hours, Public Safety Telecommunicator Shannon Manley was working as a call taker when she answered an “open line” call. Initially, the call sounded like a person walking without any conversation taking place. PST Manley continued to monitor the call, a short time later a discussion ensued. This discussion consisted of two individuals talking about committing criminal acts. These acts included those previously committed, the current act in progress and possible future illegal activities. After a few minutes, PST Manley obtained a current Phase 2 location for the subjects and entered a “Suspicious Persons” event into CAD.
When police units responded to the location that PST Manley provided they found three males in a vehicle in possession of stolen property and preparing to commit additional criminal acts. PST Manley’s attention to detail and diligence led to the arrest of these individuals.
In recognition of her substantial contribution to the Department of Emergency Communications, Public Safety Telecommunicator Shannon Manley has been selected Employee of the Month for April 2011.
PSSS Chris Strong
During the Department of Emergency Communication’s recent CALEA re-accreditation process, Public Safety Shift Supervisor Chris Strong served as our Agency’s Accreditation Manager. This included preparing the Standard Files, gathering and organizing the necessary proofs to demonstrate compliance with the standards over the three-year self-assessment cycle, and availing himself to the CALEA Assessment Team during their on-site audit in December 2010. Following the on-site assessment PSSS Strong prepared and participated in our agency review hearing at the CALEA Conference in Bethesda, MD.
The result of his dedication and devotion to this task was our agency achieving re-accreditation at the Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The professionalism and teamwork displayed by PSSS Strong were instrumental in the Onondaga County Department of Emergency Communications achieving re-accreditation from CALEA.
Therefore, in recognition of his substantial contribution to the Department of Emergency Communications, Public Safety Shift Supervisor Chris Strong has been selected Employee of the Month for April 2011.
Dawn Burlingame, Public Safety Dispatcher
PSD Dawn Burlingame
On March 14, 2011 at approximately 1419 hours, Public Safety Dispatcher Dawn Burlingame was working as a call taker when she received a call from a worker at Onondaga Community College regarding a co-worker who just had a tree fall on him then roll over him. The caller was unsure of his exact location and the victim had rolled down several feet into a gorge. In addition, the caller’s wireless telephone was quite garbled and very difficult to understand. PSD Burlingame patiently stayed on the line with the caller while determining the victim’s exact location and condition. She continued to update emergency responders until their arrival. Emergency Medical and Fire Department personnel were eventually able to locate and extricate the victim to transport him for medical attention.
The knowledge and calm demeanor displayed by PSD Burlingame greatly contributed to the positive outcome of the situation. In recognition of her substantial contribution to the Department of Emergency Communications, Public Safety Dispatcher Dawn Burlingame has been named Employee of the Month for March 2011.
Donna Dennis, Public Safety Dispatcher
PSD Donna Dennis
On Saturday February 1, 2011 Public Safety Dispatcher Donna Dennis was assigned to City Police channel 3, North Zone. At approximately 1342 hours, the Onondaga County Department of Emergency Communications received a call regarding a suspicious male armed with a knife at the Jehovah’s Witness complex on W. Fayette Street.
Several minutes later, a second call came in regarding the same incident. At 13:44, PSD Dennis dispatched a unit to that location, and then secured an assist unit, relaying all suspect information and a detailed description. When units arrived, PSD Dennis held the air. A traffic unit, not monitoring channel 3, called on the air and she immediately told the unit to, “stand-by, the air is being held on channel 3.”
Seconds later officers reported an officer involved shooting and that an ambulance was needed at their location. PSD Dennis acknowledged this report and instantaneously made sure that a command officer was notified of the incident. She remained calm during the entire incident and when appropriate switched the call to channel 1.
The knowledge and calm demeanor displayed by PSD Dennis greatly contributed to the positive outcome of the situation. In recognition of her substantial contribution to the Department of Emergency Communications, Public Safety Dispatcher Donna Dennis was selected as Employee of the Month for February 2011.
Timothy Ellis, Public Safety Dispatcher
Tiffany Nicholas, Public Safety Dispatcher
PSD Timothy Ellis
During the past year, Public Safety Dispatcher Timothy Ellis coordinated the delivery of two key training objectives for the Department of Emergency Communications, CPR/AED Training for all employees and annual Emergency Medical Dispatch In-service Training for all operational employees. Both of these training deliveries included new curriculum and standards that required a complete re-writing of the lesson plans, a re-build of the training material and presentations, and the difficult task of coordinating the training schedule. PSD Ellis unselfishly adjusted his work schedule and personal life to ensure that the objectives were met and the Training Division instructors had the necessary support and guidance to assist in the training of staff.
While undertaking this effort PSD Ellis also maintained course on several other Training Division responsibilities and objectives including a New Employee-PST Course, a promotional PSD-MRD Course, preparing CALEA proofs, as well as daily staff and agency support.
The Training Division Staff and all Department employees are grateful for his professionalism, dedication, and commitment - and proud to have PSD Ellis as part of the team. In recognition of his substantial contribution to the Department of Emergency Communications, Public Safety Dispatcher Timothy Ellis has been selected as Employee of the Month for January 2011.
PSD Tiffany Nicholas
During the past several months Public Safety Dispatcher Tiffany Nicholas has taken on the task of managing the “Sunshine Fund” and ensuring that significant events effecting individual employees have been acknowledged by sending flowers, cards, blankets, etc. This includes soliciting funds, shopping for materials and putting together blankets, most of which PSD Nicholas has done on her own time. PSD Nicholas also encouraged co-workers to participate by having them take part in assembling blankets.
Additionally, she took the initiative to organize a 9-1-1 Center fundraiser based on “The Biggest Loser” and helped plan the Department’s Christmas Party. PSD Nicholas consistently maintains an upbeat and positive attitude towards her job and her actions help to promote a more pleasant work experience for everyone at the 9-1-1 Center.
Therefore, in recognition of her substantial contribution to the Department of Emergency Communications, Public Safety Dispatcher Tiffany Nicholas has been selected as Employee of the Month for January 2011.
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