Written by Amanda Coers – There used to be a friendly decorating contest between dispatchers of 19 counties through the West Central Texas of Governments, or the COG. There ‘used’ to be. Because the Brownwood dispatch office always goes above and beyond with their decorations, no other dispatch office will compete for the last few years.
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The contest has been held in conjunction with Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. This year yet again, there was only one office participating. When you step into this year’s fantastic blue underwater world the Brownwood dispatchers have created, it’s no wonder.
Ripples of blue projected light dance across the ceiling, emerging visitors in a world of sharks, stingrays, jellyfish and more. Recorded whale songs drift lightly in the background. Even a underwater sea mine appears to float in a corner of the room.
Jonna Dodd, Communications Officer with the Brownwood Police Department, has once again worked artistic magic with the creation of fantastically drawn sea life. She and all the dispatchers worked to draw, paint, cut out, and hang various elements throughout the dispatch hub.
“The quote on the door, you look at the ocean and it looks so calm, until you actually see what goes on underwater. Then you realize you’ve missed the whole point because everything is so chaotic, but everything under water is what keeps it going,” Dodd said, explaining their ‘rough water’ theme.
Brownwood Chief of Police Terry Nichols thanked the hardworking dispatchers during a small celebration held in the emergency dispatch hub at the Law Enforcement Center at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 14th.
“This week’s all about you,” the Chief told the dispatchers gathered. “You keep the men and women out there on the streets safe, and for the citizens, you are that first responder contact. We talk about that all the time, how you are that first responder when you answer that phone. Yours is the first voice they hear to calm them down.”
Head of Communications Deedra Molotsky expressed her thanks for her team. “I can’t thank you all enough for what you do,” Molotsky told the dispatchers.
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