TDOS Recognizes Dispatcher of the Year

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NASHVILLE --- Governor Phil Bredesen has proclaimed the second week of April as National Public Safety Telecommunications Week in Tennessee, and the Tennessee Department of Safety is celebrating by honoring the department’s more than 80 dispatchers working across the state. Eight of those dispatchers were recognized this morning as Dispatcher of the Year for their district. The awards were announced at 10:30 a.m., during a ceremony held at the Department of Safety Training Center located at 275 Stewarts Ferry Pike in Nashville.

• Jennie Phillips has been named Dispatcher of the Year for District 1. She joined the TDOS as a Driver License Examiner in 1997. In 2005, Phillips was named Communications Dispatcher Supervisor of Knox County. In May, 2008, A Knoxville police officer was shot while on duty. Supervisor Phillips coordinated the THP response to assist the Knoxville Police Department in apprehending the suspect. “Supervisor Phillips not only excelled in this situation, but excels at her duties on a daily basis,” said District 1 Captain Cheryl Sanders.
   
• Communications Dispatcher 2, Jessica Partin, is Dispatcher of the Year for District 2. Partin joined the department in February of 2008, and was promoted earlier this year to Communications Dispatcher 2 in Hamilton County. Dispatcher Partin is truly dedicated to her job, and it shows in her performance. One example occurred in April 2008, when Operator Partin received a call concerning a 62-year-old woman having a stroke. Partin stayed on the phone and calmed down the victim while dispatching units to assist her.
   
• Dispatcher of the Year for District 3 is Andrew Spencer.  Spencer joined the department in 2004 as Communications Dispatcher 1 in Davidson County. One year later, he was promoted to Communications Dispatcher 2. District 3 Captain Victor Donoho says Dispatcher Spencer consistently goes “above and beyond” his duties every single shift. Once, he drove up to Clarksville in his personal vehicle to pick up a soldier and drive him to the Nashville International Airport. The soldier had no way to get to the airport to catch his flight home. Dispatcher Spencer did this because a Trooper was not available, and he felt it was just the “right” thing to do.
   
• Penny Roser is Dispatcher of the Year for District 4. She joined TDOS in 2002 as a Communications Dispatcher 1 for Shelby County and was promoted to Communications Dispatcher 2 in 2003. Roser’s dedication to her job is obvious, as she handles a major portion of the supervisor’s duties without extra compensation. Roser, a native of Scotts Hill, Tennessee, has a positive attitude and is greatly respected by her fellow co-workers.
   
• Dispatcher of the Year for District 5 is Rebecca Casey. Casey started off her public service career as a detention officer for the Washington County Sheriff’s Department. In 2005, she joined TDOS as Communications Dispatcher1 for Sullivan County. A year later, she was promoted to Communications Dispatcher 2. District 5 Captain Dean Hurley describes Dispatcher Casey a “…a true professional. She has the reputation of going the extra step when requested to run a record check on an individual, and several times has discovered that someone was wanted or using an alias. This information is invaluable to THP personnel.”
   
• Ronald Maynard has been named as Dispatcher of the Year for District 6. Maynard joined the department in 1998 as a Communications Dispatcher 1 in Putnam County. In 1999, he was promoted to Communications Dispatcher 2. During his 11 years with the department, Maynard has consistently displayed patience and willingness to take that extra step when dealing with the public. Maynard has also been instrumental in setting up and maintaining the Cookeville District’s voice mail system. “His attention to detail and outstanding job performance make him the perfect candidate for our district’s Dispatcher of the Year,” said Captain David Allred.
   
• 2008 Dispatcher of the Year for District 7 is Michael Gladney. Gladney joined TDOS as a Communications Operator in Lawrence County in 1979. He became the Communications Dispatcher Supervisor for Lawrence County in 2002. Gladney is a communications dispatch instructor and one of the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing team members for the department. District 7 Captain Steven Hazard describes Gladney as “…a dedicated member of the department who is always ready and willing to respond when the need arises, no matter what the need may be.”
   
• Sergeant Max Milam is Dispatcher of the Year for District 8. Sgt. Milam worked for the Humboldt Police Department and the Gibson County Sheriff’s Department before joining TDOS in 1987 as a Communications Dispatcher 2 in Madison County. He currently serves as Communications Dispatcher Supervisor. Sgt. Milam was selected for this award for his response to a devastating tornado that struck Jackson, TN, in February 2008. With a tornado heading straight to the THP District Headquarters, Sgt. Milam helped evacuate approximately 40 people to the basement, while operating the communications center from a remote location. “Sgt. Milam’s ability to make quick decisions and multi-task played an invaluable role during this difficult time,” stated Captain Robert Melton.

The Tennessee Department of Safety’s mission is (www.tennessee.gov/safety) to ensure the safety and general welfare of the public. The department encompasses the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Office of Homeland Security and Driver License Services. General areas of responsibility include law enforcement, safety education, motorist services and terrorism prevention.

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