Kevin Cooper and Chris Roaton

It is time again to recognize Telecommunicators who deserves recognition for their above and beyond service to the public. The Larry Lindsey Award given by the Mississippi Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials recognizes those who strive for greater service as Telecommunicators. The award acknowledges exemplary professional conduct, ability, and overall contribution to the field of telecommunications.

On December 6, 2011 on a Monday night about 10:00 pm Amanda Price had gone outside to take the dog out and startled an intruder. Hearing screams and gunshots, her husband Ron Price who was inside the house, ran out to help when he was shot in the shoulder. Amanda had been shot in the chest and later that night passed away from her injuries. The couple’s three year daughter Molly was in the house when the shooting happened. She was unharmed.

Recognition for what a dispatcher goes through on a day-to-day basis is scarce. Law Enforcement, Fire Fighters, and Medical Responders receive a lot of media attention, but 911 dispatchers never receive the recognition, a pat on the back, or congratulations for a job well done. To the public we are the voices on the phone, that is why this award is so important to help remind our dispatchers what a great job they do and to say thank you for your dedication to the field of Public Safety.

The APCO-MS Chapter would like to recognize Kevin Cooper and Chris Roaton, for their excellent performance as Telecommunicators on December 6, 2011. The compassion and dedication Kevin and Chris give to their co-workers, and there community is all in a day’s work. So we honor them with the Larry Lindsey Award Dispatcher of the Year Award 2012.