MAYFIELD, Ky. (April 2, 2017) Telecommunicators at Kentucky State Police Post 1 in
Mayfield will be recognized along with more than 200,000 of their fellow
communicators nationwide April 9-15 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. Janet Barnett,
commander of KSP Post 1 in Mayfield. “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 190 telecommunicators at its 16 posts throughout the state. In 2016,
they handled
554,282 calls. Post 1 in Mayfield has 20 telecommunicators on staff who handle calls
from an 11-county area. Last year, they responded to 79,152 calls.
The Post 1 telecommunications team includes: Communication Supervisor Cammie
Beasley, of Mayfield; Shift Supervisor Debbie Craven, of Boaz; Marie Hart, of
Paducah; Heather Farmer, of Clinton; Ginger Hunt, of Benton; Tambra Sheridan, of
Mayfield; Allyson Tatman, of Mayfield; Tony Cornwell, of Paducah; Kimberly Newsom,
of Mayfield; Ashley Gore, of Mayfield; Alaina Ramage, of Boaz; Gale Pruett, of
Mayfield; Katie Massey, of Murray; Katelyn Shultz, of Mayfield; Brandon Crews, of
Boaz; Tracy Lynch, of Metropolis, Illinois; Amanda Coles, of Hazel; Melody Brown, of
Princeton; Bryan Mack, of Paducah; and Alisha Reed, of Kevil.
For more information or to apply for a telecommunications position with KSP, log on
to the state personnel website at www.personnel.ky.gov<http://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
Editor's note: Photo attached of, from left to right, Heather Farmer, Cammie Beasley, Alaina Ramage, and Allyson Tatman.