Memphis 9-1-1 Magazine March 2023

I S H 9 P 1-1 M E M

2023 issue 22

Official Publication of the MPD Emergency Communications Bureau

Julia Robinson

MEMPHIS POLICE DEPARTMENT

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS BUREAU

ABOUT US We are one of the busiest 9-1-1 centers in the country.

We receive over 630,000 9-1-1 calls and more than 500,000 non-emergency calls each year.

ECB Monthly Mission This front-line led publication seeks to

The MPD Emergency Communications Bureau (ECB) is the primary Public

inspire and motivate ECB telecommunicators by highlighting employee accomplishments.

Safety Answering Point

The selected stories and content are

(PSAP) for the City of

shared with the intent to disseminate

Memphis; and the only

useful information about the Bureau,

provider of Law Enforcement

Memphis Police Department and the

dispatch services for the Memphis Police Department.

9-1-1 industry as a whole.

Furthermore, we aspire to increase transparency and communication

We consistently strive to meet

between management and the floor;

the call answer time standard

and improve overall employee morale.

of answering 90 percent of 91-1 calls within 15 seconds.

michael spencer emergency communications administrator cerelyn davis chief of police, memphis police department

08

31

MARCH 2023 ISSUE 22

IN THIS ISSUE FINANCIAL FITNESS Jillian Graham details her experience with Operation Hope page 9

TRAINING UPDATES

OFFICIALLY RETIRED!

Training Manager Sean Lovejoy dishes the latest on all things training. page 10

TECHNOLOGY Sam Stamper updates us on features of Hexagon OnCall. page 12

SPEAK YOUR MIND Is there anything we can do to decrease crime? Yes, ask a dispatcher! page 14

18

EMERGENCY PREPARDNESS Did you get the CodeRed Alert? We

56

had to move! page 24

On the Cover: PRD Julia Robinson, RPL is Communications' Dispatcher of the Year. Known on her shift as "Mrs. Julia", Julia serves as a senior trainer, peer support person and union steward. Check out the November 2022 issue for her interview.

04 From the Administrator's Desk 6 & 7 Employee of the Month Spotlights

ECB MONTHLY TEAM Mike Spencer, Chief Administrator Deranceque Rogers, Editor-in-Chief Erica May, Editor Sam Stamper, Contributor Linda Hollingsworth, Contributor

FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR'S DESK

Michael Spencer, ENP Emergency Communications Administrator Memphis Police Department

A FULL CIRCLE FAREWELL

I have enjoyed working with each of you and look forward to watching this Bureau continue to grow and improve. Mike

I accepted the MFD Communications Manager position. My start day at Memphis Fire will be March 13th, 2023. I have been with the Memphis Police Department for 23 years so this wasn’t a easy decision. Most of you probably don’t know that I applied to be a Fire Fighter the same Month I applied for the Police Radio Dispatcher position. I was even an EMT (emergency medical technician) and did my required ride along hours with MFD back in 1998. At the time my Dad, Roger Spencer, was in his 30th year on the Memphis Fire Department and later retired after 33 years of Service. The Police Department called first and the rest is history. This job opening was a full circle decision for me. Ultimately I would like to take a job with a Countywide or Statewide 911 Communications District and this was a unique opportunity for me to gain some Fire and EMS experience before I begin looking for that opportunity.

I have enjoyed working with each of you and look forward to watching this Bureau continue to grow and improve. I am hoping to help Memphis Fire look at staffing and procedures to improve their operation and I am uniquely qualified to understand how their operation impacts MPD Communications. If they don’t have enough operators, you guys are tied up waiting with the citizen. That impacts both centers ability to provide the quick professional service expected by our citizens during an emergency. Some of you may or may not know but Memphis Fire and Memphis Police will be moving to the same CAD system this August. I will be able to help them and the MPD ECB make decisions during implementation that will benefit both agencies while improving emergency call answer times.

MIKE'S MESSAGE My new office is right down the hall so I will still drop in and say hello.

I am confident this Bureau and Operation is headed in the right direction. I know we still have an uphill climb but I cant reiterate enough how impactful the Level Three operation was. That was providing 10-11 extra employees each day and for the most part everyone was going home on time (except for the RDO’s). That means that if the 30+ trainees we have on the floor right now make it, your home/work life balance will be changing this year. For those of you that have financial aspirations greater than your base salary, we will always have overtime available. We have been working to get to our minimum staffing but ideally we would like to have 28-30 Dispatchers present if possible utilizing volunteer overtime. Keep doing the great job that you are doing and I will ask again that you get involved in the training program at whatever level you can commit.

I can't thank you enough for the job that you do day in and day out. Keep it up and thank you for your hard work and dedication to the City of Memphis.

Mike

Dispatcher Spotlight NOVEMBER 2022 Employee of the Month

SHAYLA HOLMES PRD Shayla Holmes is assigned to Bravo Shift and has been with Communications for 16 years. Last year she coordinated Communications' participation in MPD's "Faith and Blue" Weekend which included a Family Day and a Jr. Dispatchers Day. Shayla enjoys going to church and spending time with her husband, MPD Sergeant Tadario Holmes and their five children.

What is your most memorable call?

My most memorable call came from a mother whose son was firing shots in the background and she was afraid for her life. She was sneaking on the phone with me and said that he keeps going in and out of the house firing shots. I could hear him yelling in the background whenever he would come back inside. I was trying to keep her calm and coordinate with the dispatcher on what was going on, as the dispatcher was starting officers. The officers made the scene while the son was outside. The mother didn't know what was going on, but asked that the officers don't hurt him. Shots were fired and the son was down, but I couldn't tell her that. She asked if everything was okay and I just advised her to stay inside until the officers got to her. Her son succumbed to his injuries and although the mother was hurt by the outcome, she wrote a letter to administration commending me, the other dispatcher and the officers that were involved.

What is your all time favorite ECB memory?

My all time favorite ECB memory would have to be recently when we had the Junior Dispatcher Day. That day made me appreciate and very proud of being a dispatcher. I was able to share with the children what I do for a living, and how what I do helps a lot of people at their worst moments. The children were so excited and so was I.

What are some changes you have seen from the time you started until now?

When I first started, this was the job to have.

People wanted to become a dispatcher and once they got the job they took pride in it. I think now that people take the job for granted and don’t realize the difference that they make in the city.

What advice would you give to new dispatchers that seek to be successful in this role?

I would advise newer employees to continually remind themselves that they are here to serve the community and to make sure that they always remember the reason that they applied for the job in the first place.

Dispatcher Spotlight: December 2022 Employee of the Month

Andrea Heaston Andrea has been a Police Radio Dispatcher for 7 years. She is the daughter of former ECB Manager, Eddie Heaston. She currently works the Alpha shift where she coordinates and plans many of their fun and exciting shift parties. Whether it's Christmas, a birthday, or a regular "let's celebrate", Andrea gets the party started. She does a most amazing job and gives the most awesome Prizes.

Why did you win EOM? How many times have you won the award total?

I’ve gotten Honorable mention a few times but this is the first time I’ve won. I haven’t seen the write up but I think I got it because I was determined to spread holiday cheer.

Lol! Working through the holidays can be disheartening, but I think coming to work knowing we’re going to be celebrating while we work is a big morale boost. I can only speak for myself but I think we had fun.

What are some of your hobbies outside of work?

Sleep is my main hobby, you can never get too much of it lol. I make baskets when I’m asked. I like to dance when I'm not exhausted so you may find me on TikTok from time to time. I like escape rooms and finding out what Memphis has to offer, so I’m always looking for new experiences to attend, and I tend to invite my coworkers when I find something to get into.

What is the most challenging part of the job?

Managing stress. This job is rewarding to be able to help people and get your officers home safe at the end of the day but it’s also stressful. You can’t really plan your life day in and day out because you don’t know if you’re staying over or if you're coming back early. You never know what you’re going to hear on the phone or what you’re going to experience on the radio. I think the constant feeling of having to be prepared to handle whatever situation you’re thrown into is stressful to a certain degree and you just have to find a way to manage that otherwise you’re on edge at all times.

What are some stress relievers you recommend that help you cope with the demands of the job?

SLEEP!

What advice would you give to a newer employee that seeks to be successful in this role?

Listen on the radio even when you aren’t been graded on it. Knowing what information the officers need makes you a better call-taker and in turn a better dispatcher.

Editor's Note: This issue of Memphis 9-1-1 Magazine is dedicated to Officer Geoffrey Redd. Thank you for your service to our city and our country. We will always remember and honor your sacrifce.

FINANCIAL FITNESS Jillian Graham

Last year a financial coach, Mr. Darfeis Williams was invited to Charlie Shift roll call to speak to employees about the services offered by Operation Hope. He informed us about all the financial services that are provided by Operation Hope as a free benefit to City of Memphis employees.

I set up a meeting with him because I was interested in improving my credit score. During the meeting, we reviewed my credit report, bank statements, and went over my spending habits. The painful part was creating a budget, but we did. We created a budget to help me save and reach my goals.

I now understand so much more about how credit works and the counseling services have helped me make better decisions. There has been a drastic increase in my credit score and I am much more disciplined with my debt usage. I would most definitely recommend everyone take advantage of this program. There is no excuse. It is free to us as COM employees and the financial coach is accessible for monthly meetings in person, via phone or Zoom.

MARCH 2023

training updates

page 10

Training News

by Manager Sean Lovejoy

Can you believe it’s March already?

The Training Team is full speed ahead, as usual. We currently have PRDTs from 4 different classes in various stages of training. To the CTOs, THANK YOU for your continued hard work and dedication. We could not do this without you. We have said it time and time again, but the continued success of the Bureau largely depends on you! You have the ability to influence and to educate our new workforce. You also have the power, and responsibility, to mold them into the Dispatcher you want as a co-worker. Every released PRDT is one step closer to reducing and eliminating mandatory overtime, taking days off at your discretion, more opportunities for shift bids, and moving up the seniority ladder.

To the PRDTs, HANG IN THERE! If you are doubting yourself, focus on your accomplishments and what you have achieved thus far. If you are in the radio phase of training, think back to when you were learning the phones. You overcame that challenge; you can overcome this one! If you are in the phone phase of training, think back to when you first hit the floor. I am sure there was some anxiety about what you were getting yourself into.

Hopefully that has eased, and you are finding your stride. Keep going and trust the process. Repetition, repetition, repetition! If you are in the classroom portion, think back to when you had to come for an interview. You made it through the hiring process, you can make it through training! Every day is a new opportunity to learn, to grow, and to succeed!

Keep Pushing!

In-service planning is in full swing. We have had multiple conversations with the Training Academy to incorporate their plans for Civilian In-Service with our plans for a specific Communications In-Service this year. We hope to finalize those plans in the coming weeks and possibly begin instruction shortly thereafter. If you have any specific ideas or suggestions you would like covered, please email them to me!

In closing, I want to take an opportunity to thank you all for what you do each day, and let you know how proud I am to be part of this Memphis ECB Team. With all that has transpired over the last 2 months, you all have continued to rise to the occasion, meet the mission, and show everyone what it means to be the First, First responders in Memphis. I have received emails, text messages, and phone calls from friends and colleagues in Dispatch Agencies all over the Country sharing words of support, prayers, and well wishes for our Center regarding both the Tyre Nichols case, and Officer Redd’s line of duty death. Remember to lean on each other as we continue to work through the aftermath of both incidents. If you are having issues processing your emotions, or just need to talk about what you are feeling, continue to utilize any of the available resources such as Peer Support, CONCERN, Mental Health professionals, Supervisors, Managers, etc. Keep up the great work, and let’s keep moving forward; together! - Sean

How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the New CAD -Sam Stamper Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a sneak preview/demonstration/troubleshooting session in preparation for the Bureau's upcoming switch to our exciting new CAD system: Hexagon. For those who don't know, we will be replacing our current system Intergraph (I/Calltaker & I/Dispatcher) with Hexagon in the upcoming calendar year. There are still a lot of wrinkles to iron out, but we are looking at implementing the new system hopefully by October 2023 and in preliminary preparation for this, several dispatchers, along with our CAD Tech team and Administrator Spencer spent three days with one of the software developers to start learning the "new normal."

The new system comes from the same developer as our existing system, so all of the functionality that you are used to will carry over but, honestly, your screen is going to look completely different. There are also several new features I'd like to highlight that will definitely make all of our jobs easier - once we get used to it!

One time saving feature that Hexagon will have is the ability to lock individual user preferences for each dispatcher. This means you can set your screen exactly how you want and have it carryover from station to station. There will be settings for both Calltaker mode and Dispatch mode that you can personalize based on whatever is most comfortable for you. No more Display Cad -D as soon as you sit down while one officer is making a traffic stop and another one is starting their transport while another just made scene (what car was that?) and uh-oh we got one running and WHERE IS MY DANG CAD MAP?!?! Hopefully this will help ensure a smoother, less stressful transition as we bounce around from radio to radio.

Speaking of officers, another beneficial aspect to Hexagon is that each officer will have a built-in GPS that, crucially, they will not be able to deactivate. As we all know, the better we know where our officers are, the better we can do our job to help keep them safe. With this feature, if an officer keys up in crisis, we can at least immediately get help started in the right direction immediately without having to struggle to get information from an officer who may be running or fighting or worse. It will also be beneficial in the event of a missed call situation, where an officer may not be able to key up due to an accident or other unforeseen circumstances.

There is good news to be had on the Calltaker side as well, as Hexagon will be used by and fully integrated with MFD. They will be able to see all of our calls and we will be able to see theirs. (Anyone - Will we be able to add remarks on FD calls? I forget) This should drastically reduce the number "Do y'all have the accident at Shelby/Tchulahoma? OK, have you guys been dispatched on the Ambulance call at 123 Main?" type calls. Of course, there will still be situations where we will need to communicate directly with the Fire Department, but eliminating some or most of these administrative calls will mean more time we can spend with our lines open, ready to serve citizens.

Change is never easy, but it is inevitable and, in the long run, beneficial. As we continue to get closer to going live with Hexagon we will have more of these sessions to continue to fine tune the transition. There is also a plan in place to set up "dummy" stations with the new system so a dispatcher can be listening to a live radio and manipulating a mock version of the new CAD in order to develop the routines and muscle memory that we all rely on, particularly in high stress situations. We will also have 24/7 onsite support on the floor from the development team when we do go live to answer all questions and deal with any issues as they arise (and I'm sure they will!) I can still remember my first day of training and how lost and confused I felt looking at the dispatch screen and thinking "How can any one person keep track of all this?" But eventually I learned, as we all did. At least this time we will be learning together!

DISPATCHERS SOUND OFF What do you think could be done to decrease crime in Memphis?

" Improve the sentencing laws, especially with juveniles that commit felonies." - Yentl Evans "I believe that the largest immediate impact would have to come from the judicial branch. Start holding folks accountable for their actions when we catch them. More than once juvenile court has sent kids home because they don't have room. Recidivism is a big part of the problem in this city and as we see with the auto thefts, vandalisms and thefts from vehicles, a lot of them are starting young, even as early as age twelve." - Andrew Byrd

" Open a juvenile holding facility, since the kids are committing the most crimes and we know we have nowhere to keep them."

-Kaitlin Woods

" Schools should provide electronic or computer science classes for teens that participate in taking Kias and show them how to put that skill to good use."

- Curlandius Mabone

" These kids don't have anybody to motivate them and there are limited programs for the younger generation to get involved in. They are looking at these rappers, listening to the lyrics and think that's the life.. .committing crime. I remember when I was younger I was involved in Girl Scouts and the DARE program. We took a lot of field trips. Once we stayed on campus at the University of Memphis for a week. It was a mixture of kids around the same age from different schools. We had contests, went camping, made jewelry, etc. I think that if kids had a safe space that taught them positive things that would help." - Jillian Graham

"Harsher punishment for repeat offenders. Follow the three strikes rule. If a juvenile commits a violent crime they should be tried as an adult, regardless of age. Stop decreasing bail/bonds for those responsible for violent offenses and putting them back on the street to commit the same crimes."

-Emily Beilstein

DISPATCHERS SOUND OFF

continued

Increased consequences/jail time for crimes such as but not limited to DUI, domestic violence, carjackings, shootings, violation of protection order, etc Increase bail bonds, ( if there must be a bond) for serious offenses.

Re-evaluate gun laws Citizens need to be held accountable for carelessness with guns and causing harm or death to children The community needs to be consistent with reporting suspicious/criminal activity and get involved in events/activities that promote healthy neighborhoods.

-Linda Hollingsworth

" This may sound silly to some, but I literally can only think to pray. I am afraid we are beyond fixing. At least for the next 5-10 years.. it's going to be harsh." - Jessyca Baker

" I think a big part of it is respect for authority is not taught in the home anymore and I don't know how to fix that. We need more police, but that will cost more money. It's not a positively-viewed position anymore. Too much is blamed on the police. " - Jenny Rice

" It's sad, but true that a vast majority of crimes in Memphis are committed by our youth. In my opinion, this is due in part to a lack of activities and resources available to them to occupy their minds and their time. Additionally, I believe, we as a community have failed to pour into our adolescent counterparts and that very disregard has created neglected children that seek attention by "any means necessary." This ultimately has dire consequences, not only for them, but for this city as a whole. When I was growing up, outside of school, my time was consumed with after-school activities such as majorette, cheerleading, and volleyball at my local community center. These endeavors allowed me the ability to develop leadership skills and to learn the importance of teamwork.

Currently this city offers little to no fun and safe activities for our children." Shakeishalin Monroe

Conference Reflection

Be the Difference

by Manager Jesse McCord

The Denise Amber Lee Foundation was founded by Denise’s husband, Nathan Lee in June of 2008, 6 months after her tragic death. He has made it his life’s mission to travel the country telling her story, to help 911 centers across the country try to avoid a similar occurrence to someone else.

I attended the Denise Amber Lee: Be The Difference Conference in Myrtle Beach, SC. This conference was hosted at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Myrtle Beach was mostly empty aside from locals due to the conference being held in the “off-season”. Most businesses are closed during the winter months and do not reopen until approximately mid-February. This was very evident as soon as I stepped off of the plane to a mostly empty airport. The background of Denise Amber Lee Foundation is known to most people in our industry, but the conference is new. This was the first in-person conference hosted by the Foundation.

Previously, there was a virtual conference during peak pandemic. In case you do not know the Foundation’s story, I highly recommend looking it up.

Nathan Lee does not come from telecommunications and has no history in public-safety, but is a vital part of our industry, right up there with the likes of Hank Hunt (father of Kari Hunt from “Kari’s Law”). Hank Hunt was also present at the conference. There was not a day of this conference that I did not personally interact with Nathan Lee. Nathan Lee and his family were present for every aspect of the conference and some of the most approachable people you will ever meet. There were many guests at the conference. We got to hear from Nathan Lee’s 2 sons who were 2 and 6 months old at the time of her kidnapping. Jane Kowlaski, the 9-1-1 caller who is seen as the primary reason for the final location of Denise’s body, was present and had an in-depth conversation with Nathan Lee on stage and discussed her memories of calling 9-1-1 that night. As previously mentioned, Hank Hunt was present. The author of “The Healthy Dispatcher”, Adam Timm and the author of “The Gift of Attitude”, Sam Glenn were both present and spoke on multiple occasions.

The class format was a little different from other conferences as classes were 2 hours in length, rather than the usual 1-hour classes. I attended multiple courses, including Melissa Alterio’s, Director of Cobb County ECC, “The First 100 Days: A Director’s Story”, Kris Inman’s, Director of Springfield-Greene 9-1-1, “Two Years on the Chair: Lessons Learned on the Road to Director”, Author Julie Giulioni’s “Developing Multidimensional Careers – The Manager’s Workshop”, and Halcyon Frank’s, DAL Training Director and sister of former Dispatcher Genevieve Frank, “QA/QI: Choose your focus Wisely”. The curation of these classes far surpassed that of other conferences I have attended and met the goals of the conference exactly. The goal was “be the difference in your center and your customer’s lives”.

Every single speaker’s message was perfectly on tone with this goal. Extending classes to 2 hours gave them the right amount of time to communicate these messages and nothing felt rushed

The vendor floor was very small and only had about 7 vendors total, but it was nice to see some familiar faces on the vendor floor. This included Virtual Academy, Watson Consoles (they make our consoles), and RapidSOS. Everyone was very nice and wished us the best. The entire conference was very personal. It felt comfortable and not overwhelming every day I was there. Even outside of the conference hours, friendships and connections were formed at the hotel and nearby restaurants. I met multiple telecommunicators and professionals in our industry who I will definitely be in contact with in the future.

The overall conference was a huge success. I feel as though I learned so much and gained knowledge to be able to share among all of my coworkers. I brought back Julie Giulioni’s book “Promotions are SO Yesterday” and the Conference’s handbook filled with multiple worksheets from all of the classes. These have both been placed in the ECB’s Library for everyone to look at and hopefully learn from. The Denise Amber Lee Story is very sad, but very important to our industry. It speaks on how much we can and do matter to our customers. It is a shining example of the importance of telecommunicators in public-safety. If you don’t know it, look it up for the full story.

deniseamberlee.org

When I hired on back in 2007, Lorna Griggs was one of the CTS on Bravo Shift. She was just as “animated” back then as she is today. Going through training, she would always refer to us as “her” rookies. This was never a demeaning term, at least not to me. She took personal interest in the success of everyone in the training program. That’s why we were “her” rookies. She was tough but fair. One day, my CTO made the decision to sit me with Lorna for a week, just to “tweak” some things and break me of some habits I picked up. It only took me one day to fix everything and I was back with my CTO the next day! Lorna had a saying that I still use today. She would tell people, “there’s a big difference between a Dispatcher and a car-caller.” What she meant was anyone can sit down on a radio and call out car numbers, sending people every which way with no direction, but it takes a special kind of person to be a Dispatcher. A Dispatcher can take command of a radio, give out calls with purpose and logic, and run officers all over the city and still have them thank you at the end of the night. Lorna was a true Dispatcher, and I wish her all the best in her retirement! - Sean Lovejoy

Lorna, I used to think that you were mean and didn’t like people but, over the years I have watched you. You are very caring, you just don’t want anyone to know it.

You are also compassionate and hate when others hurt, you just don’t want anyone to know it. You are a big softy about a lot of stuff and for sure you do not want anyone to know that. You will go the extra mile, for the right cause, when others fall short. Thank you for the knowledge you have shared with me, the training, and for allowing me access to the “Note Book”. You are full of great ideas and have the wherewithal to put them in motion. All I can say is that it’s a whole lot quieter around here without you.

You are 100%, unadulterated LORNA GRIGGS! Enjoy retirement and don’t have too much Tuesday fun! : ) I love you!

Regina Webster

SPRD Towles will be greatly missed. She was not only kind, she was also vey knowledgeable.

Her insight and wisdom, along with her smile and laughter will be missed in our center. That laugh was very distinct. It was a joy to work with her. A true asset! I am hoping she comes out of retirement at least one time for the ECB... ~Deranecque Sims

When Trina was promoted to Supervisor in 2014, I had the privilege of training her. We were assigned to Charlie Shift together and I was teaching her all the responsibilities of running the evening Shift (we didn’t have Shift Managers back then). She picked up everything easily while developing her own personal style of Supervision. Trina quickly became someone people confided in, trusted, and knew had their best interests at heart.

Those traits stayed with her and never changed. It was an honor to get to work with her over the years and I truly wish her happiness and joy in her retirement years! - Sean Lovejoy

Supervisor Towles, Thank you for your contribution to the ECB and the citizens of this city. Your tenacity, knowledge, dedication and genuine spirit is unmatched!

You will be missed and know that I appreciate you. I pray nothing but favor over the next chapter of your life.

"God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you have shown HIm as you have helped His people and continue to help them." Hebrews 6:10 ~Shakeishalin Monroe

TRINA-TRINN!!!

I miss your impersonations and your uncontrollable laugh! It has truly been a pleasure working with you. As dispatchers, CTO, and as supervisors.

You are a wealth of knowledge and have taught me how to take things as they come, not to stress, and deal with one situation at a time.

I pray that your retirement is everything that you hoped it would be and more!

I love you!

Regina Webster

Ms. Trina! Thank you for being one of the most kindhearted & supportive supervisors I've ever had. It is often seen how positions of power can go to people's heads, but definitely not yours.

Even with your years of service & experience you always talked to me & met me where I was, almost like a second Aunt. In times where you saw someone not giving me all of the necessary information, you would step up & fill me in completely. You would always check on & ask me how I'm doing; and do it with a big smile on your face. In times you needed to tell me I was wrong, you would do it with respect & a kind heart. For this I can never thank you enough. I pray your retirement is full of peace & I pray that you & your loved ones continue to be blessed & highly favored. - Khari Tukfu

Supervisor Towles, You have certainly made your mark here and will be missed. I will personally miss all your support, your level-headed disposition and the laughs we've shared. Thank you for encouraging me and saying kind things to me. You've always been a supporter of the magazine. We appreciate your contributions. I thank you for your years of service to the City of Memphis and all the lives you have touched along the way. I pray that God continues to bless you in your next chapter and that you enjoy your family and the fruits of your labor. - Erica May

Charlie Shift Dispatcher Jillian Graham's son, Treyvion Littlejohn is on the basketball team at Millsap College.

Conference Season will be here soon!

Conference Reflection: Supervisor Karonda Kirkwood

EVACUATION SITUATION From Flicker to CJC From snow and ice to burst pipes. From having to boil water to no water. This sequence of unfortunate events led to the evacuation of 79 Flicker and the move to 201 Poplar.

It wasn't really fun, but we got the job done.

Supervisor Kirkwood started it off from 201 Poplar to make sure everything was turned on and in working order.

Supervisor Webster coordinated the dispatcher moves from Flicker.

ECA Spencer set up a Teams Meeting with the Managers and Supervisors to make sure everyone was aware of what was going on and briefed the group on the next steps.

Training stops for no one.

Charlotte is on a mission!

Manager Stiger and Manager Sims were on it. They both left the comforts of home and joined in the "fun".

Manager Sims supplied sandwich items, chips, fruit, and drinks at CJC. Manager Stiger made phones calls and orders from Flicker.

ECA Spencer handled the technical issues at CJC, along with Manager Dewanda Montague who remoted in, and kept every thing running smooth.

Assistant Chief Crowe stopped by and provided treat baskets and encouraging words. He's always there to acknowledge Communications.

From Calltakers to Dispatchers to Supervisors to Managers to the Administrator, a beat was not skipped.

All in all, it wasn't too bad. Nor was it great. However, the transition was a lesson learned that will benefit ECB in the future.

By days end, it was as if it was just another ordinary day in the ECB - in two locations.

Manager Sims & PRD Omari Edwards paused for the cause.

"We were on break!"

EVACUATION SITUATION

Supervisor Regina Webster and Manager Stiger "working" at Flicker during the evacuation situation.

Photo shoot

Manager Stiger with the puff on her head.

Are they really working?

Back in September there was an email sent out to seeking motivated individuals who are interested in volunteering to help young girls discover their fullest potential through Girl Scouts. Your participation and mentorship can contribute to positive changes in the lives of impressionable girls from kindergarteners to high schoolers.

Well, a few of us from the Emergency Communications Bureau stepped up to the plate.

Speaking of smiles!

We made bracelets. (Col. Green)

She gets an A+

Do you know their moms?

1 2

3

4

SUPERBOWL SUNDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2023 Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs defeated Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35.

Linda, Tarrashea and Julia show off their red

Khari rocks the mic singing "Return of the Mack" during Charlie Shift's Karaoke Roll call.

Karonda works at the Joint Operation Center (JOC) during the "Justice for Tyree" detail.

Ashley is all smiles as she trains new Supervisors Charlotte and Paris.

Mike All the best on your new adventure and thanks for everything.

-Memphis Police 9-1-1