By Jessica A. York, Vallejo Times Herald (California)

Police and fire emergency dispatchers were honored countrywide this week, including nods from the Benicia and Vallejo police and fire departments.

In an award luncheon Wednesday, Solano and Napa counties’ public safety departments gathered for a Vallejo-hosted event in honoring National Public Safety Telecommunicators’ Week.

Vallejo recognized Dana Petersen as dispatcher of the year, following her nomination by fire Battalion Chief Pat Dunn for performance on a particularly grueling emergency call on Sept. 29, police department Communications Manager Aimee Crutcher said. Petersen served as the primary dispatcher during a fire that turned fatal last year, staying on the line with the victim, a paraplegic whose bed was on fire, until responders were on the scene. The victim ultimately died.

Police support services division’s Lt. Jim O’Connell, who oversees communications personnel, described Petersen as a “consummate team player.”

“The competence under horrifically stressful conditions exemplifies great professionalism — It’s something we’re very proud of,” O’Connell said of Petersen and her peer’s response to the fatal fire call.

The Vallejo communications division also bestowed accolades on its own members — the “Top Mic” award. Jamie Halverson was picked for this year’s award.

“To be awarded this, a dispatcher has to be “that” person you want working with you during a major event,” Crutcher wrote in an email. “Someone that is helping you with requests before even being asked and to sum it up, always has ‘your back’ without having to be asked.”

For its part, Benicia bestowed a dispatcher of the year award, based on internal nominations, to dispatcher Teresa Olson, a nearly 15-year-employee of the department.

“Teresa was nominated and selected due to her excellent police and fire dispatching capabilities along with her dedication to the law enforcement and fire profession,” according to a press release from the Benicia Police Department.

Olson holds a Master’s Degree in criminal justice, teaches basic dispatching at Napa Valley College and serves as a dispatch training officer for new Benicia dispatchers.

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