Montgomery County telecommunicators gather for a photo with county commissioners on April 18, 2024 as they’re spotlighted for their efforts during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Pictured, from left, are Montgomery County Commissioners’ Vice Chairman Neil Makhija, Chairwoman Jamila Winder, 911 Telecommunicators Christopher Ott and Felicia Wittenberger, and Commissioner Tom DiBello. (Credit: Montgomery County Department of Public Safety)
Two county telecommunicators receive awards amid National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week
People call 911 in times of crisis and someone is there to answer.
Those within the Montgomery County Department of Public Safety were recognized by officials in honor of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, which took place from April 14 to April 20.
“Our telecommunicators here in Montgomery County are the first and most critical contact our citizens have with emergency services and an essential link for our officers, firefighters and EMS providers by monitoring their activities by radio, providing them with incident information and ensuring their safety,” said Kevin Rairdon, assistant director of operations for county public safety agency’s emergency communications division.
The Montgomery County Department of Public Safety’s emergency communications division currently has 110 telecommunicators on staff, along with a dozen new trainees, according to Todd Stieritz, deputy director of public affairs for the county’s public safety department.
Rairdon played a promotional video for county commissioners and attendees of an April 18 board meeting, highlighting the vital role that telecommunicators play in society when answering calls for service and dispatching first responders.
“We are the first line of defense. When you call 911 you’ll get us,” said 911 telecommunicator Derrell Buxton in the video, adding “when you get that call from somebody you know it’s their worst day to be on the other side of the phone.”
Health and safety scenarios range the gamut for these telecommunicators who receive calls that range from heart attacks to childbirth labor while on the highway.
“And they just know when they call in they’re getting the best help in the world, I would say right here in Montgomery County,” Buxton said. “When they call us they know we help provide the resources they need. We’re going to help them anyway we can.”
Fellow 911 Telecommunicator Jodi Bonsall agreed.
“It is the most rewarding job I think I have ever done,” Bonsall said.
Rairdon and Platoon Commander Tony Rosa came before Montgomery County Commissioners during a board meeting last week to present awards to Christopher Ott and Felicia Wittenberger.
Ott was commended for his talents as one of the “tenured 911 call takers,” Rosa said. Wittenberger previously “performed CPR on a 3-day-old” baby and took a call from two young sisters who were home alone during a burglary in progress.
“We are lucky and proud to have both of them on their team serving the residents of Montgomery County,” Rosa said.
Montgomery County Commissioners’ Chairwoman Jamila Winder commended them for their efforts and stressed the importance of having telecommunicators on call for people in times of need.
For Winder, it was something she herself was grateful for, having to call 911 when her son was “in distress” and choking.
“Whoever was on the other end of that line calmed both my husband and I, and helped us figure out the situation, and wait for the ambulance to get there,” Winder said. “Luckily he is OK and continuing to terrorize our household, but those are the types of moments it’s great to have someone like you on the other end of the line so thank you for all you do.
“We know that the work is hard and can be mentally taxing but somebody has to do it and I’m glad that we have people like the two of you,” Winder said to Ott and Wittenberger.
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