BERRIEN COUNTY DISPATCHER OF THE YEAR – MARK FITZSIMONS

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
ST. JOSEPH – Berrien County Commissioners took time out of their scheduled to honor area 911 dispatchers during National 911 Education Month.
This year’s Telecommunicator of the Year award was announced by Berrien County 911 Adminstrator Caitlin Sampsell and Berrien County Undersheriff Chuck Heit. Heit serves as chairman of the county’s 911 Advisory Committee.
Sampsell and Heit announced the four nominees for this year’s award as well as the winner for this year. Every year, 911 operators from the County Emergency Communication Centers are invited to nominate their peers for the annual 911 Telecommunicator of the Year award.
The anonymous nominations were then considered by representatives from the County’s 911 Advisory Committee. The award is then presented during National 911 Public-Safety Telecommunicators Week, which is annually recognized in April, during National 911 Education Month.
911 Telecommunicators are the Call-takers and Dispatchers, known as the “first first responders” for their integral role in the response to an emergency call, providing pre-arrival instructions over the phone, and mobilizing and coordinating the field response, Heit said.
The award for the 2022 Telecommunicator of the Year was presented to Niles City Dispatcher Mark Fitzsimons. He was recognized for his dedication to public safety and flexibility through his exemplary attendance and assistance with providing additional shift coverage when other staff are not able to work.
He also has been an asset to the Niles Police Department through training new dispatchers and assisting with the Law Enforcement Information Network Terminal Agency Coordination duties. Fitzsimons’s quick handling of two homicide incidents was highlighted as an example of his work and ability to coordinate resources.
The award was accepted by Niles Capt. Mike Dawson on his behalf.
Others recognized were Berrien County Dispatcher Carolina Moreno, Berrien County Dispatch Supervisor Sarah Blurton, and Niles Dispatcher Danae Fitz.
Fitz has been a dispatcher since 2019 and recently became a dispatch trainer. Blurton has also trained many new dispatchers during her tenure. Moreno was recognized for her assistance in giving a caller instructions when a person went into arrest last October as well as for informing fire emergency crews of people still inside a home.
“The dispatchers are vital lifelines to first responders,” Heit said. “We thank them for all they do whether they are getting a call about a violent crime or a multi-car crash or are giving instructions to callers. They are a vital lifeline.”
“This year’s nominations for Telecommunicator of the Year highlight the important work that our telecommunicators do every day, from handling reports of violent crimes to providing CPR instructions. Always there, always ready,” Sampsell said.
“It is a joy to celebrate these first responders as they recognize each other’s contributions and accomplishments,” she added. “They dedicate themselves to serving our community and they deserve to be recognized for their role in public safety.”
Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey also was on hand to recognize the dispatchers for their service. “It’s a very difficult job, I used to fill in in the 1980s and it was the most stressful job I ever did,” he said. “I want to thank all the dispatchers.”
“They are the hub of law enforcement,” he added. “Without getting the proper information to law enforcement and first responders, what we do couldn’t happen. I give kudos to whoever takes up a career in dispatching.”
For those who think they have what it takes to provide 911 public-safety services to their community, Berrien County Public-Safety Communication Center and Niles City Police Department currently have open opportunities.