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.
To learn more about the Teammates in Action Program, including past recipients or to nominate a deserving team, visit our Missouri Teammates in Action page.