Riverton Police Department dispatchers recognized during National Public Safety Communicators Week

(Riverton, WY) – The City of Riverton celebrated National Public Safety Communicators Week on Tuesday by recognizing the dispatchers who work at the Riverton Police Department.

“Dispatchers are a huge part of our community,” Mayor Tim Hancock said before reading a National Public Safety Communicators Week proclamation during a Riverton City Council meeting Tuesday. “It takes a special person to be a dispatcher … and I am very pleased to be recognizing them. We appreciate all the work that (they) do for our community every day.” 

The proclamation Hancock read notes that “the safety of our police officers and firefighters is dependent upon the quality and accuracy of information obtained from citizens who telephone the Riverton Police Department emergency communications center.”

“Public safety telecommunicators are the first and most critical contact our citizens have with emergency services,” Hancock read. “Public safety telecommunicators of the Riverton Police Department have contributed substantially to the apprehension of criminals, suppression of fires and treatment of patients, (and) each dispatcher … has exhibited compassion, understanding and professionalism during the performance of their job in the past year.”

The RPD dispatch center received more than 30,000 telephone calls last year, including 2,500 calls to 911, RPD Chief Eric Hurtado said.

“They’re the ones that bring calm when there’s chaos,” he said. “They’re that reassuring voice on the other side of the phone (on) somebody’s worst day. And tonight is our opportunity to thank all of our dispatchers here for Riverton.”

Hurtado introduced his dispatchers to the city council on Tuesday, beginning with Dispatch Supervisor Sarah Nelson, who “possesses a wealth of knowledge” and “is often the go-to person for a multitude of questions.”

“Sarah is responsible for compliance of our National Crime Information Center, she applies and manages many of our grants for our department and evaluates our dispatchers annually, (and) she’s also in charge of our field training officer program for communicators,” Hurtado said. “And all this while also dispatching behind the console.”

Brandy Ramage wasn’t present at Tuesday’s meeting, but Hurtado recognized her as a “very efficient” and “meticulous” dispatcher who has been on the job since 2007.

Kristen Havens has worked with the RPD for six years, Hurtado said, noting that she is also a field training officer and is “instrumental” in submitting National Incident-Based Reporting System statistics.

“She’s very helpful with all our new staff, especially our admin,” she said. 

Camille Bench has been employed with the City of Riverton for three years, Hurtado said, and she currently works the “overnight shift” at the RPD dispatch center while also attending nursing school.

“(She’s) a quick learner and quick on her feet,” Hurtado said, explaining that “all the more interesting calls happen at night. “We appreciate her making sure that all of our officers return home safely during the night.”

Meagan Ayars has been “dispatching with us” for almost five years, Hurtado said, and she currently serves as a DUI specialist and field training officer.

“She has a very warm presence in dispatch, always greeting our officers with a smile and a joke,” he said. “(She) is very helpful to officers and very kind on the phone and the radio.”

Caitlin Parker is approaching her third anniversary with the City of Riverton, Hurtado said, calling her a “tremendous asset” and “very trusted employee” who assists in verifying stolen vehicle, gun and missing persons cases and often covers for others when they’re sick.

“She’s always there to answer the call and help out at the last minute,” Hurtado said. “(She’s) very efficient, and her work really stands out.”

Trey Laird joined the dispatch team about a year and a half ago after the RPD “stole him from a nearby law enforcement agency communication center” where he had worked for almost two years, Hurtado said. 

“He shows excitement coming to Riverton and learning how we do things here and how busy sometimes we can also be,” Hurtado said. “He’s also one of our nighttime crew, (and) he’s the one that kind of gets things done when we have some unique things because he’s able to network out with the other law enforcement agency that dispatches for the county.”

Officer Brandon Brookover still holds a dispatch certificate too, and he used it to cover for the dispatch team so they could receive their recognition this week, Hurtado said.

Evidence Technician Lisa Looper also has a dispatch certificate, Hurtado added, and she “jumps in (to) cover when things happen and we need some extra dispatch assistance.”

“We do have another dispatcher that will be joining us (in) May and another one scheduled to join us in July,” Hurtado noted. “That will bring us (up) to fully staffed.”

For more information, call the City of Riverton at (307) 856-2227.