Public Safety Telecommunicators Week: April 13–19, 2025
Public safety telecommunicators, or dispatchers, are often the initial first responder to an emergency. They take the 911 call or text of distress and obtain essential information to relay to emergency medical service providers, firefighters, law enforcement officers and others. Telecommunicators also give important instructions to callers to help save lives.
Gov. Mike Braun proclaimed the third week of April 2025 as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Indiana (view the proclamation). IDHS encourages public safety agencies and residents statewide to recognize the important work these professionals do and to share appreciation for them.
Telecommunicators Week: April 14–20, 2024
Public safety telecommunicators, or dispatchers, are often the initial first responder to an emergency. They take the 911 call or text of distress and obtain essential information to relay to emergency medical service providers, firefighters, law enforcement officers and others. Telecommunicators also give important instructions to callers to help save lives.
Gov. Eric J. Holcomb proclaimed the third week of April 2024 as Public Safety Telecommunicator Week in Indiana (view the proclamation). IDHS encourages public safety agencies and residents statewide to recognize the important work these professionals do and to share appreciation for them.
Did You Know?
Highlighting Hoosier Telecommunicators
The following are just a few stories of telecommunicators, as recognized by the Indiana Statewide 911 Board during 2024:
Tornado Responses
Posey County 911 Dispatch Center Staff
Posey County
Telecommunicators at the Posey County 911 Dispatch Center immediately sprang into action when an EF-3 tornado struck less than three miles away in Mount Vernon and another tornado occurred in the northern part of the county. Calls were handled seamlessly as off-duty staff rushed in or offered to do so. No major injuries were reported, and their teamwork helped ensure a swift response to the storm's aftermath.
“I am very glad to have such a great group of people working here,” said Director Jamie Bradford.
Randolph County 911 Center Staff
Randolph County
An EF-3 tornado struck Randolph County overnight when the Randolph County 911 Center was staffed by two employees. Off-duty staff began to arrive, but not without several of them going above and beyond the call of duty. One abandoned her vehicle and walked to the center because tornado debris had blocked her route. Another came in despite her own home being damaged by the twister. A third might actually have driven through the outer edges of the tornado itself.
Once at the 911 center, the staff took 150 calls by midnight. Later, they were praised by the county EMA/911 director as well as a Wisconsin resident who overheard the dispatches via an online scanner.
Delaware County Emergency Communications Center
Delaware County
When tornadoes struck Indiana on March 14, 2024, the Delaware County Emergency Communicators Center answered 183 calls in just two hours (six times the typical volume on a Thursday night!) while also coordinating fire responder resources for neighboring Randolph County. Extra staff rushed in (even more offered) and consoles were fully manned right away. Their teamwork ensured emergency services could respond effectively. Delaware County 911 Director Fred Cummings said it was amazing and that all the staff members proved their dedication and commitment to the people of their county that night.
Bobbi Cooksey
Vanderburgh County
Evansville-Vanderburgh Central Dispatch telecommunicator Bobbi Cooksey took a crisis line call from a 12-year-old girl making suicidal statements via text. She called the girl and kindly developed a rapport with her for about an hour as she tried to learn more about her location. Cooksey’s patience and persistence helped her teammates and other agencies to locate and assist the child. She went above and beyond to help during the crisis.
Marcie
St. Joseph County
A caller reported that her husband was barely breathing, and St. Joseph County 911 Assisting Supervisor Marcie received a call from a woman reporting that her husband was barely breathing and not waking up. She instructed her and others on the scene to begin CPR, assertively guiding them through compressions while also providing encouragement for more than five minutes until first responders arrived. Her actions helped save the husband’s life, and she was later honored with a Lifesaver Pin.
Samantha Jostes
Porter County
Porter County 911 Assistant Supervisor Samantha Jostes was on her way home from work and stopped at a local drug store. That is when she spotted a woman matching the description of a missing person reported the day before. She called local police, who confirmed the woman's identity. Jostes was honored with a Search and Rescue Challenge Coin by the Porter County Search and Rescue Team. She was the first non-member to receive one.
Cameron Theobald, Caitlyn Moore
Hamilton County
Less than a week into taking 911 calls, Hamilton County 911 dispatcher Cameron Theobald answered a life-or-death call about an unconscious person who was not breathing. Under his trainer Caitlyn Moore's supervision, he calmly guided the caller through CPR until first responders arrived. The patient survived and was released from the hospital thanks to the team’s quick actions.
Maleah Sears
Steuben County
Steuben County Communications Center telecommunicator Maleah Sears took a 911 call for a corrections officer in full cardiac arrest outside the sheriff's office. She quickly dispatched EMS while first responders performed CPR. Thanks to her calm and efficient response, the officer was successfully resuscitated, made a full recovery and has returned to work.
Amanda Earles
Hendricks County
Hendricks County Communications Center probationary dispatcher Amanda Earles faced a nightmare scenario: a caller trapped in a sinking vehicle at an unknown location, with water rapidly rising. Earles stayed composed and used her training and Emergency Fire Dispatch protocols to give clear, precise lifesaving instructions that led to the caller's rescue. She was later honored with a Lifesaver Award.
Alyssa Eichholtz
Hancock County
Hancock County 911 dispatcher Alyssa Eichholtz guided a veteran and her husband through delivering their baby over the phone. After seven years as a 911 operator, it was Eichholtz’s first time assisting a childbirth. Thanks to her calm instructions, the delivery was a success.
Katie Wilson
Starke County
When a distress call came into the Starke County Sheriff's 911 Communications Center, dispatcher Katie Wilson quickly responded to a report of a choking victim. She calmly guided the caller through the Heimlich maneuver, but when the patient became unresponsive, she swiftly provided CPR instructions. After three minutes of coaching the caller to provide compressions, the patient regained consciousness and was able to communicate. Wilson's quick thinking and composure saved a life!
Kayla
Vanderburgh County
Evansville-Vanderburgh Central Dispatch telecommunicator Kayla played a crucial role in solving a violent felony case. As officers searched for suspects, Kayla used her resources to locate a key address from a previous case, ultimately identifying another suspect. Her quick thinking and initiative led officers to the location, where all suspects were taken into custody without incident. Evansville police credited Kayla's efforts, stating the case would not have been resolved as quickly or smoothly without her.
Mindy Stephenson
Randolph County
Randolph County 911 Deputy Director Mindy Stephenson provided lifesaving instructions to a family delivering their baby at home. With the newborn already presenting, Stephenson guided the parents each step of the way until paramedics arrived. She was later honored with a Stork Pin, certificate and a commendation for her role in the successful delivery.