By Jennifer Rios, San Angelo Standard-Times
Original publication date: Apri1 1, 2011

San Angelo, Texas — Laura Banda was the first to hear about the Cano Diamond shooting. The San Angelo police dispatcher was nearing the end of her shift in March 2010 when store owner William Cano called 911 to report an attempted robbery, an exchange of gunfire and the injuries of the man lying on the floor.

Almost a year after she collected that information — including location, who was injured and a description of a suspect car — Banda was recognized for her proficiency and the calm nature she exuded. On Wednesday, San Angelo Police Chief Tim Vasquez presented Banda with the Silent Hero — a state award given by the Commission on State Emergency Communications.

“The Silent Hero is an individual who is important to the day-to-day contributions,” said Annetta Glass, 911 program and public education specialist with the Concho Valley Council of Governments. “In their performance or attitude, they’re sort of an inspiration to other 911 dispatchers.”

A nomination submitted on Banda’s behalf highlighted her work during the robbery. On March 31, 2010, a gunman, later identified as Juan Luis Martinez, was killed after he held up the jewelry store.

“I was trying to get the story straight. I needed to know who was shot, was he shot …” Banda said. “I remember (Cano) saying a guy came in. It was pretty mixed up and jumbled (at first.)”

While she talked to Cano, other dispatchers were getting calls from surrounding businesses. “It was a pretty hysterical situation all in all,” Banda said.

Police later reported that Martinez walked into the store brandishing the handgun and demanding money. As Cano started putting jewelry and cash in a bag, an employee walked into the retail area from the backroom. Martinez pointed the gun at the employee, then turned and fired at Cano, who returned gunfire.

This year, three dispatchers were recognized with the CSEC award — a dispatcher in Brady, one in Big Lake and Banda. Glass said a dispatcher’s job doesn’t stop at taking a call; they have to keep themselves and the caller calm and extricate as much information about the situation as possible. Dispatchers lay the groundwork of the call by asking questions so officers don’t walk into a situation unaware of what’s happening around them.

“Laura exemplifies this,” Glass said, “She knows which questions to ask in order to not only help the public, but to keep her officers safe.”

It has been about five years since a San Angelo Police Department dispatcher was recognized for this award, Glass said.

Police identified a second man as Martinez’s accomplice. Brandon Rene Garcia, now 23, was charged with aggravated robbery at the time of the incident. Video surveillance from a nearby store showed a vehicle left the area shortly after the robbery. According to an arrest warrant affidavit filed with Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Russell Smith, the surveillance images showed a late-model gray Dodge four-door pickup truck passing through the rear parking area near Cano’s Diamonds at the time of the robbery.

The video showed a passenger getting out of the truck and walking toward the store. In August, the robbery charge was dismissed, according to Tom Green County District Court records. In March, Garcia was charged with burglary of a habitation, a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison. He has not been indicted on the offense.

Copyright © 2011 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy