Telecommunicators

Chad Babbs, Jamie Wenclaff
Indiana State Police, Fort Wayne Regional Dispatch Center

Trooper Chad Babbs encountered a grandmother who had driven from Georgia to Cass County looking for her granddaughter, whom she believed was in the area and was hoping to persuade her to return to Georgia with her. Babbs advised her to seek a motel for the evening, but she did not have enough money to do so, so he paid for a room for her. The next morning, he woke up and noticed that Jamie Wenclaff, regional dispatch night supervisor, had reimbursed him half of the motel expense.

Olivia Watkins
Elkhart City Communications Center

Dispatcher Olivia Watkins received a 13-second 911 call from a cell phone. She determined the caller may be in trouble and immediately used Rapid SOS to find the phone's location and then relayed the information to law enforcement officers in the area. As a result, the victim escaped from a moving vehicle and gave officers information that led to the arrest of a suspect for robbery and criminal confinement.

Nalaina Whitesel
Randolph County E9-1-1

Telecommunicator Nalaina Whitesel took a 911 call from a family whose daughter was giving birth at home. Whitesel advised that traveling to the hospital would be too dangerous for them to travel to the hospital, and she kept the callers calm and gave them instructions on how to deliver the baby at home. She stayed on the phone for 8 minutes until EMS and law enforcement personnel arrived.

Cameron Bopp
Indianapolis Fire Department

Dispatcher Cameron Bopp received 911 texts starting "help," "rape" and "forced into black Chevy car." He used Rapid SOS to find the phone's location and informed his supervisor, who then relayed the information to law enforcement officers in the area. Bopp continued updating on the location of the phone, and officers were able to find the vehicle and rescue the woman who had texted 911.

Stephanie Suiter, Judy Osborn-Turner
Hendricks County Communications Center

Communications training officer Stephanie Suiter and her trainee received a 911 call from a woman who had driven her car into a pond and was hysterical. Without hesitating, due to the high-risk situation, Suiter took over pre-arrival instructions and dispatched law enforcement and fire personnel. She remained on the line to give instructions and reassurance until responders successfully rescued the woman before the car became completely submerged.

On a separate occasion, dispatcher Judy Osborn-Turner received a 911 call of a man in cardiac arrest. She provided life-saving instructions to his wife, who successfully performed CPR until first responders arrived. The man survived without any deficits due to Osborn-Turner's reassuring and persistent guidance.

Angie Hadley
Shelbyville Police Department

Supervisor and IDACS coordinator Angie Hadley was specially recognized during a Shelbyville city council meeting for 30 years of service. In December, the city and Shelby County were to consolidate operations, ending Hadley's time as a city employee and continuing her career with the county.

Anonymous
Be Well Indiana, Johnson County Public Safety Communications Center

The Be Well Indiana hotline received a call from a Johnson County man who was suicidal, had a gun and planned to act. The Be Well Indiana representative contacted the Johnson County Public Safety Communications Center, and the telecommunicator shared that an address was on file for this caller. The Be Well Indiana representative was advised to stay on the phone while officers were dispatched. They arrived shortly, the caller answered the door and the Johnson County telecommunicator was able to confirm that officers were present and the caller was safe.

Megan Hedger
Bartholomew County 911 Emergency Operations Center

Dispatcher Megan Hedger received a 911 text that said, "I've been held in my house since the fifth by (name). He kicked in my door. I have video surveillance footage. He has fallen asleep in the back room. Please help me. ..." Hedger immediately informed law enforcement and kept in contact with the victim by text. Officers arrived and took the suspect into custody.

Dana
Brown County 911 Dispatch Center

In the middle of the night, telecommunicator Dana from Brown County 911 Dispatch Center received a 911 call about an unresponsive woman, with no pulse and agonal breathing. She immediately gave CPR instructions to the people who called. They continued until first responders arrived and determined the woman had an overdose. They administered naloxone, and the patient was successfully resuscitated and taken to the hospital.

Gretchen Dimmett, Kim Tabb, Mariah Fenwick
Warrick County Sheriff's Office

Dispatcher Gretchen Dimmett received a 911 call about an unconscious woman on a park trail. She was calm, gave CPR instructions and continued to gather information. Meanwhile, dispatchers Kim Tabb and Mariah Fenwick worked together to send first responders to the scene while handling other 911 calls too. Law enforcement officers arrived, continued CPR and used a defibrillator. The woman began to breathe and her heartbeat was restored. EMS arrived and took the woman to the hospital. The woman survived and is doing well.