As the annual 9-1-1 Awards Gala approaches, three Stephenville dispatchers have been nominated for awards.
Stephenville PD dispatchers Danielle Heizer and Cassidy Schedule were nominated for Team of the Year after their efforts to remain calm helped save a victim’s life.
In the winter of 2023, Heizer answered a 9-1-1 call reporting that someone in their residence had been stabbed and was limited in their responsiveness.
Quickly, Schedule jumped into action dispatching EMS and police to the scene. While waiting on the first responders to arrive Heizer was able to keep the caller calm and collect pertinent information about the victim and the suspect.
It was soon discovered that the victim was not stabbed but rather shot by the unknown assailant.
The quick action and seamless teamwork between Heizer and Schedule enabled them to gather pertinent information to not only keep the victim alive but lead to the arrest of the suspect.
“They did a great job on that call,” Communications Training Officer Kerry Parsons said.
At the point that the 9-1-1 call was answered, Schedule had been a dispatcher for about a year and a half, and planned to use the job as a foundation for becoming a Crime Scene Technician. She has now moved onto that job for SPD and has been a crime scene tech for about 3.5 months.
“I still miss dispatch,” she said. One asset recognized on the nomination was that the dispatchers remained extremely calm, aiding to calm down the victim.
“It’s one of the things we work on in training,” Parsons said.
She said that if you’ve ever listened to real 9-1-1 calls, dispatchers almost sound “bored” or flat.
“It’s a technique that we teach them to keep the energy under control at a scene,” she said. “They can’t add to the panic.”
Parsons herself was also nominated for an award 9-1-1 Professional of the Year, in recognition of her true professionalism and outstanding leadership.
TCO Kerry Parsons is a front-line dispatcher and a Communications Training Officer for the Stephenville Police Department. She has been employed with the Stephenville Police Department since March 2018.
Parsons got her start in 2012 as a dispatcher with Brownwood PD and then moved to her “dream department” with SPD in 2018.
“TCO Parsons often arrives at work early for her shift and is always prepared for the day to start. She is a true team player, considerate of others, and willing to assist another team member. TCO Parsons leads by example and takes the initiative anytime it is needed,” her nomination reads.
“I love what I do,” Parsons said.
During a recent dispatcher shortage, Parsons stepped up to the plate working for almost a month straight without a break, often being the only dispatcher on shift for 12 hours.
Parsons admits in an odd way it was fun and she deeply appreciated all of the support of her co-workers and officers who would stop by on a regular basis to see if she needed food or drink, or even a break.
“The officers and firefighters were so good to me,” she said. “They would use extra patience on the radio since they knew I was by myself.”
Fortunately, dispatch is now almost fully staffed out to its 11 dispatch positions.
“She worked overtime when needed and never complained. She is reliable. TCO Parsons has been an advocate for positive changes in the communications department by wanting to build team morale,” the nominations states. “TCO Parsons enjoys helping others and takes pride in the job that she does. She keeps a professional tone and remains courteous when taking calls or complaints from citizens. TCO Parsons goes the extra step of researching additional information, with the intent of gathering the most information for the officers before they even make the scene. TCO Parsons is a caring individual; she plays a vital role in ensuring officer safety and enhancing public safety in an incredibly demanding environment.”
The nominees and their co-workers will get to step out from behind their consoles to enjoy the gala on June 14 for the entire region.
“We’re excited for everyone to get to mingle and enjoy the evening,” Nikki Newton, North Central Texas Emergency Communications District 9-1-1 Community Engagement Coordinator said.
Currently, SPD dispatch is comprised of three stations that all handle fire, police and 911 calls.
Within the next two years, a joint dispatch will be online for the entire county merging SPD and the Erath County Sheriff’s Office together.
“We are excited for joint dispatch,” Parsons said. “It will be amazing for the whole county with the same level of professionalism [to which] they are already accustomed.”