Sheriff’s office 911 dispatchers honored

Published 2:00 pm Friday, April 14, 2017

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — Several dispatchers with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office Emergency 911 Center were honored at a luncheon Wednesday for their dedication and service to local residents, as well as law enforcement officers.

The luncheon, which was held inside the 911 Center, was in observance of National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.

“This really means a lot to all of us to get a little recognition for doing what we do,” said Mandy Ptak, who serves as director of the Baldwin County Emergency 911 Center. “Last year, dispatchers answered right at 198,000 phone calls.”

Sometimes, it’s even difficult for them to take lunch breaks because they are so busy answering telephone calls, she said.

“We stay really busy,” Ptak added. “We enjoy taking this time to show them how much they are appreciated for what they do.”

Ptak has been the director of the 911 Center since 2009, but employed at the 911 Center for a total of 17 years.

Sheriff Bill Massee told dispatchers at the luncheon what they mean to the sheriff’s office.

“I know everybody knows this, but we can’t function without our dispatchers,” Massee said. “I tell people that it’s the hardest job we have at the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office, or any agency for that matter. We hire people all the time and we get applications.”

The sheriff praised the work of all the dispatchers at the sheriff’s office.

“We thank y’all more than you know and we appreciate y’all,” Massee said. “Y’all are phenomenal. You really are.”

Maj. Lynnette LaRocque also praised the department’s dispatchers.

“They really do a great job,” she said. “They receive phone calls, and text messages. They get a lot of information. And they never know what kind of call is going to come in at any given time on any given day. I’m very proud of our folks here. They do an excellent job, and with all that they have to do, we’re all pretty impressed with their work.”

Deputy Carroll Smith, who also serves as chaplain of the sheriff’s office, provided the invocation before dispatchers and other law enforcement officers at the sheriff’s office enjoyed the prepared meal together.

In his prayer, Smith described dispatchers and others in the law enforcement circles as “unsung heroes.”

Earlier Wednesday, Baldwin County Fire Rescue Chief Troy Reynolds and Battalion Chief Tony Waller brought boxes of pizza to show their appreciation for local dispatchers. Accepting the pizzas from the local fire officials was Ptak, along with dispatchers Megan Kennedy and Cassy Boyer.