Marion County Public Safety

I have been with Marion County Public Safety for almost one year. During this short time, on top of the day to day emergency calls, I have seen this team deal with an impending hurricane, a school shooting and responding to the call for help from a neighbor county after Hurricane Michael.  During the mentioned high-stress events, the professionalism and demeanor of this team was nothing short of inspirational. After the devastation of Hurricane Michael hit the small town of Mexico Beach, Fl. Marion County sent a team of dispatchers to assist the 9-1-1 center located there as well as boxes of donated goods for the resident telecommunicators that had lost everything they owned to the storm.

Even during the everyday operations of a busy 9-1-1 center, the emergency telecommunicators here find the time to participate in the local “Stuff the Bus”  school supply drive, winning two years in a row for most supplies donated by a Marion County department.

As a new telecommunicator, another example of the level of dedication and helpfulness to each other in the center can be seen in the way of not criticizing or judging for a mistake made due to inexperience but instead taking the time to turn it into a learning/mentoring moment.

The Communications Center Manager, Kyle Drummer, will go out of his way, thanking each an every person for the service they provide the county.  Kyle will often buy pizza or pass out ice cream as a way of thanking the telecommunicators.

I retired after 27 years in the United States Air Force and I can honestly say the level of professionalism and demand for excellent customer service is unlike anything I have seen at other civilian agencies I have worked. It gives me great pleasure to be able to nominate this group of telecommunicators for this opportunity.