Small Town Dispatcher Is Selected as ‘Best’

For Jesse Avery, her attempt to be come a dispatcher at Cripple Creek Emergency Communications (Colo.) began with an application at age 19. When told there was a requirement to be 21, Avery wasn’t deterred—she waited two years and applied again. Luckily for Cripple Creek. Earlier this month Avery was honored by the E9-1-1 Institute at at a Washington (DC) banquet as their 2009 Dispatcher of the Year, recognizing her professionalism, positive attitude, and for handling a series of critical incidents in the small Rocky Mountain town (pop. 1,012). Center director Diann Pritchard nominated Avery, describing her as a humble person who goes above-and-beyond what is required, and often follows up on the calls she handles. Pritchard recalled several incidents that Avery handled in a superior way, including a suicide threat via text message, a major vehicle accident and a 911 call reporting a possible hostage situation.

Avery joined the town’s comm center in 2005, and is one of the center’s trainers. She consistently rates 98%+ on her handling of EMD calls, and considers public safety communications a long-term career, Pritchard says.

In her nomination, Pritchard recalled a 911 call reporting that a young man had threatened suicidal via text message, and might be headed to a local cemetery. “Through Jesse’s interrogation skills she quickly gathered pertinent details and relayed them to the officers without interrupting the call process,” Pritchard said. “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.”

Avery and Pritchard visited Washington for the award ceremony, where they met U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Mark Udall, toured the District’s Office of Unified Communications, and got in some sightseeing.

The awards gala was held at Union Station, with over 500 people attending. Pritchard says the event included attendees from all across the United States and even Europe.

The E9-1-1 Institute also gave awards for First Responder (Darien, Conn. EMS Post 53), 9-1-1 Advocacy (Denise Amber Lee Foundation), 9-1-1 Program (DC’s center), and Citizen in Action (Shaintile Perry of Illinois).

Pritchard (l.) and Avery at the awards ceremony

Pritchard (l.) and Avery meet with Colorado’s U.S. Sen. Mark Bennet