9-1-1 Day honors Washington’s emergency telephone public safety personnel
Camp Murray, Wash. – Washington State will honor the state’s emergency telephone public safety personnel on Friday, Sept. 11 as part of the national 9-1-1 Day.
Gov. Chris Gregoire urged Washington residents “to join me in recognizing the important of 9-1-1 service to our health and safety and in offering our gratitude to the thousands of public safety officers on whom we rely every day.”
As part of this year’s 9-1-1 Day observance, the Washington Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officers (APCO) also highlighted the work of their 2008 chapter award winners who were announced last June. These award winners were:
Grays Harbor E9-1-1: Telecommunicator of the Year for Sustained Superior Performance.
Loanne Travess of Grays Harbor Communication E9-1-1 has been a telecommunicator for 17 years. She is described as a skilled dispatcher, call taker, trainer, master of data base and a team player. She is willing to help anyone at anytime. Loanne’s knowledge of the entire system and Grays Harbor is unmatched. She is vigilant of unit status and responder safety.Her award nominated stated, “The little things she does each day has the power to affect a great many people. Loanne inspires us with her willingness and ability to help others. She takes on the world, one day at a time, continuously searching for a way to make things better,seizing the opportunity to improve everyday life.” Loanne is a true asset not only to her center but to this profession. Loanne Travess also received the 2009 APCO International Telecommunicator of the Year award.
Washington State Patrol, Bremerton: Telecommunicator of the Year for Exemplary Handling of a Critical Incident.
An officer not answering her status check turned into a Telecommunicator’s worst nightmare for Cenci Miner. The male that was contacted by U.S. Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer Kristine Fairbanks shot her prior to her 3-minute status check after the man’s driver check was returned. Cenci’s intuition and experience as a Communications Officer with the Washington State Patrol in Bremerton made the difference in apprehending the subject who killed Officer Fairbanks and another property owner near the campground. Her attention to detail,compassion to the family and her diligence to her job truly made the difference in the apprehension of the subject.
Grays Harbor E9-1-1: Technician of the Year for Sustained Superior Performance
Scott Sipe from Grays Harbor E9-1-1 is responsible for all IT aspects of Grays Harbor
Communications Center. He is recognized for his ability to handle all issues, anytime,anywhere. His attitude and professionalism is noted by user agencies, management and dispatchers. He is proactive and constantly looking at ways to improve and enhance with minimum cost. He is involved in his profession outside of the center and also in his community.Scott represents the true essence of this award. Scott Sipes also received the 2009 APCO International Technician of the Year award.
Cowlitz County 9-1-1: Telecommunicator of the Year Award.
Chris Koehler, Maria Schuh, Shan Olsen and Michelle Sims received a call from a passenger that had been involved in a one-car accident. The caller did not know where she was or who was in the car with her. The team used their geography knowledge, questioning skills and intuition to lead responders to the general area and then used the background sounds to lead responders to the scene. Thanks to their problem solving skills this team made a difference in the outcome of this incident.
For more information, please contact Lorri Gifford, E911 program manager, (253) 512-7013.
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