Highway Patrol Honors Dispatchers of the Year

The Tennessee Highway Patrol has named Beverly Bearden (right) as its Dispatcher of the Year for 2010 for her calm handling of a hit-and-run accident that involved a trooper, and also honored other dispatchers for district-level awards. The awards included veterans, rookies and one posthumous award. In Bearden’s case, she was on-duty when a trooper was struck and injured by a hit-and-run driver on last November. “Dispatcher Bearden remained calm and focused throughout the ordeal,” the Highway Patrol said in a press release. Bearden notified THP Command and Highway Patrol units, and alerted local law enforcement agencies that the trooper was enroute to the hospital. “Dispatcher Bearden kept everyone updated on his condition throughout the remainder of her shift.” Richard Dorning is a 34-year veteran and was honored for the Lawrenceburg district office. “Dispatcher Dorning has been steady in the radio room by providing gentle guidance as incidents begin to unfold and lives hang in the balance,” the agency said. Dispatcher Jonathan Isleman was a 12-year veteran of the Highway Patrol when last year he lost his fight with cancer. “Dispatcher Isleman had a desire to exceed all expectations and set a positive example for his co-workers. He even dispatched from his hospital bed,” the agency said. Read about all the honorees here.