Missouri Teammates in Action

The Missouri Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (MOAPCO) is pleased to recognize Director Chris Brown, Assistant Director Hope Gerdes, Telecommunicator Rhonda Hughes, Telecommunicator Morgan Saunders, Telecommunicator Korissa Wilson of Chariton County E 9-1-1 as Missouri Teammates in Action!   

On June 27, 2022, an Amtrak train carrying 270 passengers and 12 crew members struck a dump truck at a crossing in Mendon located in Chariton County, Missouri. Four people – three passengers on the train and the driver of the dump truck – were killed in the crash and derailment.

Telecommunicators Rhonda Hughes and Morgan Saunders took the first 9-1-1 calls from a nearby resident and a passenger on the train. Director Brown and Assistant Director Gerdes dispatched the initial emergency response. Telecommunicator Wilson was at the 9-1-1 center to start her shift and took over dispatch duties. Assistant Director Gerdes is an EMT for the Chariton County Ambulance District, so she and Director Brown responded to assist at the scene.

Chariton County E9-1-1 took in over 3,000 radio dispatches by the end of the day. The center coordinated with multiple law enforcement agencies, ambulances districts, fire services, and other volunteers assisting with the incident. Each and every Chariton County dispatcher called in to see if additional help was needed. The team displayed poise and professionalism throughout the entire incident and handled every call in a timely and proficient manner. Missouri APCO is proud to commend them for their exceptional performance and recognize them as Teammates in Action.

The Missouri Chapter of APCO is also pleased to recognize Telecommunicator Melissa Duff, Telecommunicator Sadie Keck and Assistant Director Donna Windsor of the Carrol County E9-1-1 Center for their actions during this event. Telecommunicator Keck fielded a 9-1-1 call from a 14 year old Boy Scout that was stuck in the bathroom of the dining car. Telecommunicator Keck stayed on the phone with this caller until he was recued. During the event, Telecommunicator Duff took a call from an elderly male who was on the train with his wife and remained on the phone with them until they were safely removed from the train. During the event Assistant Director Windsor relayed the information from calls received to Chariton County and the EOC.

The Missouri Chapter is also pleased to recognized Supervisor Danielle Gordan, Telecommunicator Rebekah Shermuly and Director Shelby Creed of the Linn County Central Dispatch for their actions during this event. Telecommunicator Shermuly fielded a 9-1-1 call from the North Central Missouri Regional Airport who was relaying that a crop duster was reporting a train derailment near Marceline. They soon determined this derailment to be near Mendon. Supervisor Gordan received a roll over 9-1-1 call from a young female who was involved in the derailment and had become separated from her group. Director Creed assisted in the set up of the Emergency Operations Center. All Linn County personnel were instrumental in dispatching field responders for mutual aid and fielded several hundred non-emergency phone calls regarding the incident. Supervisor Gordan was requested by Linn County Ambulance to contact the local hospitals where patients were being transported to obtain an updated patient count. It must also be noted that this was Shermuly’s final week in her training.

Lastly, the Missouri Chapter is also pleased to recognized Chief Operator Dena Applebury, Chief Technician Michael Wiseman, Trooper Jason Miller, Assistant Chief Justin Parks, Communications Operator III Leland Jones, Communications Operator I Rebecca Adams and Communications Operator Trainee Jesse Halley of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop B Communications Center for their actions during the event. These Communications Operators worked as a team to coordinate state resources such as State Troopers, Park Rangers and Conservation Agents as well as contact the National Transportation Safety Board and Amtrak and coordinate with the U.S. Fire Marshall’s office regarding the event. 

This is the true definition of a multi-agency critical incident. The actions taken by these communications professionals helped coordinate a chaotic scene and the response of local, state and federal authorities.

The Missouri Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (MOAPCO) is pleased to recognize Shift Supervisor Michael Prater and Dispatchers Blake Kruse, Nichole O’Harver, Kim Hauck, Brian Smith, Matt Amos, Dylan DeClue, Tanya Moder, Allison Newton, Bailey Epple and Rebecca Presnell of Jefferson County 9-1-1 as Missouri Teammates in Action!   

At approximately midnight on August 4, 2022, heavy rain started in northeastern Jefferson County. The first call was an occupied car stranded in the water. Dispatchers then began taking numerous calls of water in basements, water impending on residences, water over roadways and occupied cars stranded in water in the Springdale – Highway 141 area.

9-1-1 Dispatchers knew there was a lot of rain coming. They knew what had recently happened just north of Jefferson County had the potential to happen in their own backyard. When it did, the rain came fast and furious. The number of calls were overwhelming for the dispatchers on duty, so a page was sent out for additional manpower to respond. Dispatchers Tanya Moder, Rebecca Presnell and Kim Hauck answered that page and promptly reported to work in the middle of the night. During a three-and-a-half-hour period, the dispatchers answered 91 9-1-1 calls and 97 calls on non-emergency lines. The Jefferson County 9-1-1 team, led by Supervisor Mike Prater, did an outstanding job taking care of the citizens and the agencies we work with. Missouri APCO is proud of their hard work and is pleased to recognize them as Missouri Teammates in Action!

The Missouri Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (MOAPCO) is pleased to recognize Assistant Chief Operator Adam Whittom, Communications Operator III Justin Davis and Communications Operator I Krysten Keeney of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop E as Missouri Teammates in Action!   

On March 17, 2022, at approximately 0810 hours, Troop E started receiving reports of a multiple vehicle crash on Interstate 57 at the 13.4-mile marker in Mississippi County.  Initial reports included that there were multiple commercial motor vehicles involved, including a commercial motor vehicle on fire – fully engulfed – with a subject trapped, an unresponsive subject, and that both the northbound and southbound lanes were blocked.

Due to an operator on sick leave, ACO Whittom and CO I Keeney were the only operators working at the time of the incident. They handled all the radio and phone traffic related to the incident, as well as routine phone and radio traffic.  CO III Davis was called in and arrived three hours after the incident occurred to assist at the front desk. These operators professionally, calmly, and efficiently handled a large amount of radio and phone communications. They played a critical role in coordinating the response of Patrol responders and many other agencies, wrecker services, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and the Missouri Department of Transportation.

This was a massive incident that left Interstate 57 blocked for nearly 24 hours.  It involved 21 separate crashes, 39 vehicles, 5 fatalities and 14 injuries. Operators Whittom, Keeney, and Davis exhibited great resourcefulness and professionalism throughout the incident.  They remained calm, were able to prioritize, multi-task and coordinate resources.  They were the calm in the storm and assisted with keeping our officers focused and calm during an extremely stressful situation. Missouri APCO is proud to recognize them as Missouri Teammates in Action.

The Missouri Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (MOAPCO) is pleased to recognize Communications Officer Evan Bishop of the Kennett Police Department and Communications Officer Casie Gaskins of the Dunklin County Sheriff’s Office as Missouri Teammates in Action!   

On March 20, 2022, Communications Officer Gaskins, Dunklin County, took the call from the suspect’s grandfather on a domestic assault. The grandfather reported that the grandson had stabbed his girlfriend in the leg with a screwdriver.  He then forced her into a vehicle and fled the scene.  Kennett 9-1-1 Communications Officer Bishop dispatched law enforcement officers. They located the vehicle within 15 minutes and engaged in pursuit through Arkansas as well as numerous towns in Missouri. The suspect was still armed with the screwdriver. The vehicle was stopped after approximately 90-minutes and the suspect taken into custody.

Communications Officers Bishop and Gaskins displayed exceptional teamwork as they divided up tasks while maintaining effective communications between the agencies. Bishop coordinated with responding officers from surrounding and out-of-state agencies to update them with the most current location of the pursuit. He also kept officers aware of possible road hazards throughout the pursuit.  These Communications Officers’ professional performance was crucial to the successful capture of the suspect and in providing emergency medical care to the victim. Missouri APCO is proud to recognize them as Missouri Teammates in Action.

The Missouri Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (MOAPCO) is pleased to recognize Communications Chief Laura Shaffer and Communications Officers Morgan Hines of the Bollinger County Sheriff’s Office as Missouri Teammates in Action!   

At approximately 1:30 p.m. on January 13, 2022, Bollinger County 9-1-1 received a call from a man in a mental crisis. He was barricaded in a residence with his mother and kept saying he was going to make law enforcement kill him. Bollinger County Communications Chief Laura Shaffer and Communications Officer Morgan Hines kept the caller on the line and took handwritten notes of the communication for approximately an hour until Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop E Negotiator Sergeant Clark D. Parrott arrived at the Sheriff’s Office.

After Highway Patrol Negotiators arrived, both Communications Officers continued taking notes critical to the negotiation effort and providing pertinent information to the negotiators. With the detailed notes taken, the negotiation team could review previous questions and answers and attained a safe resolution for the subject in crisis. Both nominees remained calm through the nearly 5-hour standoff.

This incident occurred on Communications Operator Hines’ 6th day of employment. The calm and dedication displayed by these Communications professionals is exceptional and we are pleased to recognize them as Missouri Teammates in Action.

The Missouri Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (MOAPCO) is pleased to recognize Communications Specialist Tonia Packard, Communications Specialist Kim Moore and Communications Specialist Trainee Kristen Perez of the Lee’s Summit Police Department as Missouri Teammates in Action!  

On January 18, 2022, Lee’s Summit Police Department CMS Trainee Perez received a 9-1-1 call of a structure fire. She quickly transferred the caller to the Lee’s Summit Fire Department Communications and emergency crews were dispatched. When law enforcement officers arrived at the scene, they determined there was a child trapped in the burning residence. They attempted to make entry but were driven back by the intense heat and smoke. They were unfortunately unable to get to the upstairs bedroom where the child was located.

At the same time, the trapped 10-year old child called 9-1-1. CMS Moore took the call and spoke with the child while CMS Packard updated Fire Department Communications on the situation. CMS Moore provided instructions enabling the child to remain alive until firefighters could arrive. When firefighters made entry, they could hear CMS Moore’s voice coming from the child’s cell phone speaker. They were able to find the little girl by following the voice of CMS Moore and rescued the child safely. Missouri APCO would like to express our appreciation to these communications life savers and recognize them as Missouri Teammates in Action.

The Missouri Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (MOAPCO) is pleased to recognize Communications Officer Kelsie Mays of Kennett 9-1-1 as Missouri Teammates in Action!

Kennett 911 Communications Officer Kelsie Mays took a call from a mother who was worried about the well-being of her daughter. The daughter came into the police department before a wellness check could be made. When CO Mays asked the woman if she was ok, the woman started to cry. She explained she lived with her boyfriend, and she needed to get out, but had nowhere to go. CO Mays had just gone to Crisis Intervention Training where the department gained access to contact information for Haven House in Poplar Bluff. CO Mays contacted them by phone and gave basic information. The facility said they had a bed available for the woman if she had transportation. CO Mays then contacted Kennett Police Chief Wilson who authorized an officer to transport the woman to the facility. The mother was then contacted and advised of the situation and where her daughter was being taken to.

This is an example of dedication and passion which often goes unrecognized. Communications professionals help bridge people in danger to the resources they need, each and every day. CO Mays used her training and available resources to quickly assist a person in need. For her heartfelt compassion and consideration, Missouri APCO is pleased to recognize Communications Officer Kelsie Mays as a Missouri Teammate in Action.

The Missouri Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (MOAPCO) is pleased to recognize Communications Operator III Russel Windle, Communications Operator I Jason Stephens and Communications Operator Trainee Jason Edwards of the Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop D as Missouri Teammates in Action!

On December 10, 2021, about 10 minutes after shift change, a Trooper advised he was in pursuit of a vehicle on the south side of Springfield. COIII Windle was the primary Communications Operator. He gathered critical information and began to coordinate additional Trooper response. He also immediately called the Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 Center. COI Stephens contacted the Command Staff Lieutenant on duty to provide oversight to the incident. In the course of the pursuit, the pursued vehicle became disabled and within moments a Trooper was shot.

COIII Windle coordinated the initial response of Troopers to the scene while simultaneously coordinating with the Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 Center for additional responders. COI Stephens kept the Lieutenant updated while he and COT Edwards began making the mandatory Patrol notifications. The Troop D Communications team worked together and with investigators to assist in developing suspect information, disseminating it to Troopers conducting an extensive search of the area as well as area agencies, resulting in an arrest the next morning. While doing this, they continued to coordinate communications between the command post, officers on parameter detail, SWAT personnel and area agencies.

These Communications Operators worked beyond their stress, their fear, and their concern that they had for their injured Trooper, to ensure a successful resolution to this incident. They remained calm and professional and helped provide some semblance of stability to a chaotic event. Their actions combined with the swift response of field responders meant the Trooper continues to serve and protect the citizens of our state today. These Operators are the epitome of the word team and deserve to be recognized as Missouri Teammates in Action.

On January 12, 2022, Henry County 9-1-1 received a report of a missing 12 year-old girl who willingly left Clinton, Missouri with several males. Very limited information was available regarding the males the girl left with or the vehicle involved.

Henry County 9-1-1 attempted to locate the child’s cell phone for several hours. The phone continued to ping in the same three locations. Dispatcher Grieme thought to use a triangulation application to input the ping locations. Those results put the location of the cell phone in Greene County. Dispatcher Grieme immediately contacted the agency for that area. Her actions ultimately resulted in locating the child safe and unharmed less than 24-hours after she went missing. Jaclynn has less than one year under her belt as a Dispatcher and demonstrated exemplary focus and determination to bring this child home safely.

For her dedication and quick thinking, Missouri APCO is pleased to recognize Dispatcher Jaclynn Grieme as a Missouri Teammate in Action.

The Missouri Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (MOAPCO) is pleased to recognize Telecommunicator Logan Voss of Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 as a Missouri Teammate in Action!

On January 23, 2022, the Missouri State Highway Patrol was out with a female motorist and her small child. She was trying to get to a women’s shelter and her car had run out of gas. The trooper didn’t have a gas can, so he checked with Springfield Police who did not, either. Telecommunicator Voss monitored communications. He rounded up a gas can on his own and brought fuel to the scene for the female so she could be on her way.

Logan’s action was well beyond the expectations of the job and reflects his dedication to our citizens and user agencies. He did it quietly, without fanfare or expectation of any sort of recognition, but a Greene County deputy found out and let the communications center know how thankful he was for Logan’s selfless act. Logan’s did this simply because he saw a citizen in need and wanted to help her. Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1 is exceptionally proud of Logan and knows what an outstanding employee he is. This act is indicative of the type of person he is and Missouri APCO is proud to recognize Telecommunicator Logan Voss as a Missouri Teammate in Action!

The Missouri Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (MOAPCO) is pleased to recognize Team Leader Josh Pruitt, TCO II Jeff Boyer, TCO Emily Blanchard, TCO Angela Russell, and TCO Kayla Littrell of the Jasper County Emergency Services (JASCO) as Missouri Teammates in Action!

At morning shift change JASCO communications Team Leader Pruitt took calls on a structure fire and propane tank explosion. Two victims were flown to a hospital in Springfield. During the fire call, TCOII Blanchard and other members of the team began to receive 9-1-1 text messages from a suicidal person, who texted 9-1-1 multiple times telling his story. The communications team worked diligently to find the texter’s location. Deputies were looking for the suicidal person when the JASCO Sheriff’s Chief Deputy reported he was out with a man who ran from a house into the woods. A second deputy arrived to assist, but he became dizzy and collapsed. The Chief Deputy found he was not breathing and began CPR. He used the deputy’s radio to report an officer down to TCOII Boyer while continuing chest compressions. TCO’s Littrell and Russell immediately dispatched Fire/Rescue and EMS to the scene.

The team continued to respond with compassion and concern to text messages from the suicidal person; they kept everyone up to date on the officer down situation; and they continued to process incoming calls and field-initiated traffic throughout this event. Several other agencies assisted in looking for the suicidal person who was eventually taken into custody for treatment. The team finally heard the news that their Deputy was conscious, breathing, and talking. After being released from recovery, he called his teammates who had helped to save his life. The JASCO communications team handled their profession with grace and diligence. Missouri APCO would like to express our appreciation to these communication life savers, and we are proud to recognize them as Missouri Teammates in Action

The Missouri Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (MOAPCO) is pleased to recognize Communications Operator III Justin Davis, Communications Operator III Doug Hager, Communications Operator Trainee Krysten Keeney, Communications Operator III Patricia Limbaugh and Communications Operator III Betty Rodgers of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop E as Missouri Teammates in Action!

On October 24, 2021, Iron and Madison Counties activated tornado sirens approximately 30 minutes before a tornado touched down. The Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop E Communications team began coordinating officer response to the area and made required notifications to staff members.

Around 9 p.m., the voice of Troop E Marine Corporal Richard Walker came over the radio saying he and his family had taken shelter in their basement and reported water was coming into the basement, severe storms were overhead, and they had a propane leak. As first responders made every effort to reach Corporal Walker and his family, the corporal again called by radio saying his house was destroyed but he and his family were safe. Other calls flooded into Troop E and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office reporting damage to power lines, structures, and roadways. At shift change, Operators Rodgers and Hager seamlessly took over the communications duties.

These operators acted as a team handling a large amount of phone and radio traffic while keeping staff notified and coordinating patrol officer response. They embraced the Core Values of the Missouri State Highway Patrol through their unwaning professionalism, resourcefulness, commitment, character, and compassion. For their tremendous ability to process information and provide exceptional customer service with professionalism and commitment during a time of uncertain safety to the people they know, love, and serve, we are proud to recognize them as Missouri APCO Teammates in Action!