Westminster, MD, Thursday, February 1, 2024 – Carroll County Government is pleased to announce internal peer awards given to four county Emergency Communications Center staff at the Department of Public Safety’s 2nd Annual Peer Awards Ceremony on January 23, 2024.  The awards provide an opportunity for staff to recognize each other for hard work exhibited over a year. Emergency telecommunicators are critical to our communities as they are the voice on the other end of 9-1-1 calls and are responsible for quickly assessing situations and dispatching police, fire and/or ambulance companies as efficiently as possible.

Telecommunicators vote for their peers in four categories including Supervisor of the Year, Trainer of the Year, Dispatcher of the Year and Call Taker of the Year.

For the 2023 Peer Awards, the Emergency Communications Center congratulates the following winners:

Supervisor of the Year - Derek Dods
Comments from peers: Extremely professional, always willing to step in during busy times, provides constant positive reinforcement

Trainer of the Year – Shawn Donovan
Comments from peers: Goes above and beyond to train staff and helps develop and instruct trainees; wealth of knowledge

Dispatcher of the Year – Kelby Walter
Comments from peers: Well-rounded, very knowledgeable dispatcher; good work ethic and assists with training

Call Taker of the Year – Katie Flynn
Comments from peers: Always kind, calm, collected; talks to callers with respect and is a voice that helps callers focus; excellent customer service

These four telecommunicators represent a combined 34 years of experience.

The Carroll County Emergency Communications/9-1-1 Center receives and processes more than 55,000 9-1-1 calls every year and is responsible for the dispatch of all fire/EMS units as well as the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Mount Airy Police Department, Manchester Police Department, Hampstead Police Department, and Westminster Police Department during select overnight hours.

“This is a great event to recognize the staff of the Emergency Communications Center who work hard and continuously exemplify the commitment to the community and dedication to assisting those who call 9-1-1 at any time – day, night, weekend, or holiday,” said Valerie Hawkins, Director of the Department of Public Safety. “They operate closely as a team and peer-to-peer recognition is an excellent way for coworkers to show appreciation and support to each other.”