Sussex County EOC director, staff win honors for service

Georgetown, Del., April 14, 2010: Sussex County’s Emergency Operations Center director and four other staff members are earning high marks for their work as the calm, collected voices when the public – and first responders – turn to 911.

The Association of Public Safety Communications Officials Mid-Eastern Chapter on Thursday, April 15, will honor EOC Director Joseph L. Thomas and members of his staff for their work at Sussex County’s 911 center and EOC this past year, particularly in the hours following the fatal shooting of a Georgetown police officer on Sept. 1, 2009. Officer Chad Spicer was killed in the line of duty while responding to a report of shots being fired at a local fast-food restaurant.

The 911 staff worked closely with Delaware State Police dispatchers to shoulder the load of calls and radio traffic related to the shooting, while maintaining operations for other emergency calls. The EOC, meantime, served as a news briefing center, as well as a place to gather for fellow officers and town officials mourning the loss of Patrolman Spicer.

Mr. Thomas, named the APCO Mid-Eastern Chapter’s 2008 Center Director of the Year for Delaware, this year was a runner-up for the same honor. Mr. Thomas, who has served as director of the 911 center and EOC since 1997, was cited for his willingness to step in and take calls when staff is overwhelmed with emergency calls. He was also recognized for his coordination and leadership during the fatal police shooting and winter snowstorms.

Others on his staff recognized include:

  • Dispatcher Christopher Moore was named Telecommunicator of the Year, with Dispatcher Todd A. McCabe named a runner-up for the same honor. Both Mr. Moore and Mr. McCabe were lauded for their pleasant and calm demeanor in helping 911 callers during crisis situations;
  • Communications Support Supervisor Harry ‘Chip’ Larson was named RF Technologist of the Year. As the EOC’s chief radio technician, Mr. Larson is responsible for ensuring that communication equipment is always in working order at the center. Mr. Larson also played a key role in the new center’s opening in 2008;
  • PC/CAD Technician Jessica Hamonko was named IT Technologist of the Year. Ms. Hamonko manages the 911 center’s computers and computer aided dispatching system, and has taken on new duties to help local fire companies with the installation of mobile data terminals in their vehicles;
  • The entire Emergency Operations Center was awarded a unit citation for its response to the fatal Georgetown police officer shooting.

County Administrator David B. Baker said the staff is deserving of the recognition.

“These individuals represent the above-and-beyond spirit that I have witnessed firsthand at our EOC,” Mr. Baker said. “In an emergency, we all expect help to hurry to our aid. It takes a lot of dedicated people to make the system work, and to make it run quickly and efficiently. I’m proud of the fine job our EOC staff does, and it’s on display with every 911 call each and every day.”

Mr. Thomas and his staff will be recognized at the APCO Mid-Eastern Chapter's spring meeting and awards luncheon April 15 in Woodsboro, Md.

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