Durant/Bryan County emergency dispatchers were honored as part of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week from April 14-20 and Crystal Phillips was named Dispatcher of the Year.
The dispatchers serve in the Durant Police Department as part of Durant Communications – Bryan County 911. These dispatchers provide service for 17 fire departments, nine law enforcement agencies and two emergency medical services. Durant’s dispatchers also work closely with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police and Chickasaw Nation Lighthorse Police, totaling 31 agency partnerships.
Interim Police Chief Joe Clark said this was a special week because dispatchers were being honored all week long.
“It’s not very often that they get told how much they’re appreciated and we need to do better with that, but this is a good opportunity that when you see one, just let them know what a good job they’re doing,” Clark said. “Just so you know, I feel like you guys are such a critical part of the public safety mission and without you guys doing what you do, we would not succeed, so thank you very much.”
City Manager Pam Polk thanked the dispatchers for what they do.
“That is a very critical and important position that helps all of our citizens of Bryan County,” she said. “If it wasn’t for the dispatchers, it would be detrimental, so thank you for what you do and I’m glad to see the department and the community honoring you for the jobs that you do.”
Chris Marcy, administrative lieutenant and 911 supervisor, said, “I want to thank everybody for being here, the fire department, thanks again for another year of cooking food on Wednesdays for dispatch week. We really appreciate your commitment.”
Brian Heverly, city public safety director, spoke of the dedication of the dispatchers. He said dispatchers are by definition, the first responders because they take the 911 calls.
“Most of the ladies, we’ve had some guys back through the years, are tucked back here in a hole,” Heverly said. “No windows, no daylight and they are honestly doing the Lord’s work back there.”
He said calling 911 is something that can be taken for granted.
“It takes hard-working young ladies, a dedicated group of folks to pick up the phone and start that process happening, and that is what this week is all about, showing you appreciation for the other 51 weeks of the year for what you do, not only for us, but also for the community,” Heverly said.
Marcy, who has been 911 supervisor for about 10 months, said that when he took over, there were six full-time and two part-time dispatchers.
“The amount of hours those ladies were working was incredible,” Marcy said. “It’s speaks to their dedication, their courage and their commitment to their craft that they gutted it out that long.”
The city now has eight fulltime dispatchers and three part-time dispatchers.
“I tell them quite regularly, I could not do that job,” Marcy said. “To be sitting in that room for 12 hours at a time with no sunlight. You can’t even walk outside for some fresh air but they do it. They do it with a smile and they do it with extreme professionalism.”
Marcy then introduced Phillips as the Dispatcher of the Year.
“All of my ladies in there, they’re all dispatchers of the year, but there has to be one, and I can tell you that it didn’t take but a few seconds before we knew who that one was,” Marcy said. “With staffing levels critical, I always made sure she was my last call because I knew when I called her, there was only one word coming out of her mouth. It was yes. She would literally work seven days a week if I would let her, but I don’t let her.
“But not only is she working those long hours and answering the phone, at the same time, she is always striving to make herself a better dispatcher.”
Marcy said that this year, Phillips completed a 40-hour certified trainer’s program and an active shooter course.
“She’s only been here a few short years but she is already now in the intermediate level as far as her training hours,” Marcy said. “So, and when I said it, all of the dispatchers shook their heads. They knew who she was. Crystal Phillips is our Dispatcher of the Year.”
Phillips, after accepting the award, said, “I want to say a couple of things to my six back here. I love all of you. We’ve become a family. We like to butt heads sometimes. We also are there for each other when we need to be. You guys are great and I’m glad I get to finish out my career with a great group of people.”
