Congratulations to Cripple Creek, Colorado, dispatcher Jesse Avery for being named Dispatcher of the Year by the E9-1-1 Institute (http://www.e911institute.org/).
This is from Cripple Creek Emergency Communications Director Diann Pritchard:
"On August 6, Jesse received a call from a man in Colorado Springs stating approximately 30 minutes earlier he received a strange text message from his friend about being depressed. This friend previously told him if he ever killed himself it would be at his brother’s grave since his brother had committed suicide years earlier.
When the cemetery information was provided the observing sergeant responded in a marked unit. The police chief and detective responded in unmarked vehicles. Jesse continued to gather information and kept the officers updated. She relayed that the individual was known to have weapons and was on morphine and painkillers.
Within minutes of staging the unmarked unit radioed that a vehicle matching the suspect’s was entering the cemetery. The marked unit inside made contact with the individual and he was taken into protective custody without incident. Weapons were found inside the vehicle. The individual was transported by ambulance for a mental health evaluation.
The caller was very concerned and asked Jesse to call him if they found his friend. Jesse followed up and let him know that his friend was found. Jesse also notified Colorado Springs Police Department since the caller stated they were trying to contact the individual at his residence.
Through Jesse’s interrogation skills she quickly gathered pertinent details and relayed them to the officers without interrupting the call process.... Her swift and thorough actions undoubtedly protected the individual, citizens in the cemetery and the officers. If the officers arrived at the cemetery even a few minutes later this situation could have had a very different outcome."
And from another call:
"[Jesse] answered a 911 call from a mother who received a phone call stating her son was taken hostage and was going to be killed. Jesse handled the call quickly and professionally. She stayed on the line with the mother for the duration while three law enforcement agencies responded to the residence. The situation was remedied within 20 minutes."
And from another call:
"Once again, Jesse demonstrated her superb dispatching skills when she handled a two-car accident....
Fire/EMS responders arrived within 5 minutes of being dispatched. An Army medic was first on scene reporting a fatality and multiple patients.
...
The way Jesse handled this call demonstrates true professionalism. She remained calm and confident through the entire call.
Jesse is a positive reflection upon our profession, the Department and the City.
Once again, if you ask Jesse about this call she will tell you, 'I was just doing my job.'"
Jesse, for keeping the citizens of Colorado safe, and for representing the dispatchers of Colorado with expertise and professionalism, we thank you!
Jesse Avery
