Hickory, KY. (April 11, 202) – Telecommunicators at Kentucky State Police Post 1 in Hickory will be recognized along with more than 200,000 of their fellow communicators nationwide April 12-18 during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
These silent heroes behind the headsets are more than just a voice on the other end of the line. They often save lives on a daily basis.
“Our telecommunicators are not only the lifeline of our first responders, but also the lifeline of the public at large,” says Captain Kyle Nall, Commander of Post 1. “The job they do requires compassion for their fellow man, the capacity to bring calm in a moment of chaos, and the ability to set their emotions aside in the gravest of circumstances.”
KSP telecommunicators handle dispatch duties for Kentucky State Troopers, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers, Kentucky Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officers and other emergency service agencies. Their duties include calling wrecker services, notifying channels of administration, running license plate and driver’s license numbers, running criminal histories and notifying family members while continuing to answer new calls and handling other radio traffic. Most important, they are that calming voice on the other line when someone calls 911 and is most likely having the worst day of their life.
KSP employs 180 telecommunicators at 16 posts throughout the state. In 2019, they answered 2.1 million calls resulting in 500,236 requests for assistance. Post 1 employs 21 telecommunicators who handle calls from an 11 county area. Last year, they answered 78,039 calls.
Post 1 Telecommunicators include: Heather Farmer (Clinton, KY), Tracy Lynch (Metropolis, IL), Ginger Hunt (Benton, KY), Debbie Craven (Mayfield, KY), Tambra Sheridan (Mayfield, KY), Kim Newsome (Mayfield, KY), Ashley Gore (Mayfield, KY), Alaina Ramage (Paducah, KY), Brandon Crews (Boaz, KY), Amanda Coles (Hazel, KY), Bryan Mack (Paducah, KY), Alisha Cooper (Hickory, KY), Andrea Howe (Farmington, KY), Jerry Beasley (La Center, KY), Amanda Curnell (Puryear, TN), Dylan Craven (Mayfield, KY), Chad Spain (Mayfield, KY), Jessica Smith (Fredonia, KY), Charlie Hite (Benton, KY), Larry Fraser (Cunningham, KY), and Phillip Madison (Paducah, KY).
During National Telecommunicator’s Appreciation Week, KSP plans to highlight the great work of all dispatchers across the state by highlighting stories of their great work and sharing photos and videos about their efforts on the KSP Facebook, Instagram and Twitter platforms.
For more information or to apply for a telecommunication position with KSP, log on to the state personnel website at www.personnel.ky.gov The Kentucky State Police (KSP) is a law enforcement agency that prides itself on attracting the best individuals. KSP affords equal employment opportunity to all individuals, regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender or age.