MARC to celebrate 911 dispatchers for their crucial role in emergency response

On Friday, April 14, 2023, the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) will recognize 911 emergency dispatchers and call takers across the Kansas City region for the crucial role they play in public safety. The 26th Annual Telecommunicators Appreciation Celebration and Outstanding Performance Awards will take place from 6-9 p.m. at the Kansas City Marriott on the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, Missouri.

Held during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, the annual event recognizes telecommunicators who consistently perform above and beyond the call of duty, demonstrate exemplary individual and team performance in a critical incident, conduct outstanding training performance and have made a significant contribution to the field of public safety over a minimum of 25 years.

Approximately 300 public safety personnel are expected to attend this year’s celebration.

2023 honorees include the following:

• Everyday Hero Award: 
  Deputy Heather Beabout, Johnson County, Kansas, Sheriff's Office
• Outstanding Individual Performance in a Critical Incident:
  Amy Moseley, Shawnee, Kansas, Police Department
• Outstanding Team Performance in a Critical Incident (two to five positions)
  Jennifer Payne, Richelle Scarborough, Beth Buffington and Ann Strobbe – North Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department
• Outstanding Team Performance in a Critical Incident (six or more positions): 
  Marlynda Dixon, Morgan Lindbloom, Jenna Hale and Cameron Harris – Johnson County, Kansas, Emergency Communications Center
• Outstanding Public Service Answering Point Leader:
  Ryan Ford, Lenexa, Kansas, Police Department
• Outstanding Multi-Agency Performance:
  Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Police Department; Independence, Missouri, Police Department; Blue Springs, Missouri, Police Department; and the Missouri State Highway Patrol
• Lifetime Achievement Award:
  Master Deputy Tamara Glasper-Adell, Johnson County, Kansas, Sheriff’s Office

Serving 11 counties, MARC is the coordinating agency for the Kansas City Regional 911 System. The regional system, which handles more than 1.6 million emergency calls each year, includes Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties in Missouri, and Atchison, Johnson, Leavenworth, Linn, Miami and Wyandotte counties in Kansas. Committees and task forces comprised of local government representatives coordinate the 911 system, which is served by 40 public safety answering points.