GOSHEN- Several Orange County 911 dispatchers and supervisors were presented with meritorious service awards last week for their exemplary work during September’s Farmingdale High bus accident on Interstate 84 in the Town of Wawayanda. The awards were presented by Commissioner of Emergency Services Peter Cirigliano II and County Executive Steven Neuhaus, who created the award in 2018 to honor first responders who keep the county safe.
“The call volume on the day of the Farmingdale bus crash was heavy, but as always, our 911 dispatchers remained calm and collected,” Neuhaus said. “They played an integral role in the response to the emergency and I am proud of the work that these men and women conduct every day. I thank our 911 dispatchers for their quick-thinking and commend them for the effort that they put forth and the pride that they take in serving Orange County residents.”
Forty-five people were injured and two were killed in the bus crash on September 21st. The accident claimed the lives of the school’s band director and an adult chaperone on the trip and sent most students to area hospitals.
Public Safety dispatchers at the County’s Emergency Service Center answer 911 calls 24 hours a day. As part of their duties and responsibilities, they receive emergency and non-emergency telephone calls from the public and transmit emergency information to firefighters, medical personnel, law enforcement officers, and needed equipment in the shortest possible time, while maintaining a calm demeanor in high-stress situations.
Dispatchers also maintain radio communications with public safety personnel responding to the emergency. These men and women are required to monitor numerous telephone and alarm systems and radio frequencies simultaneously and must exercise sound independent judgment in prioritizing calls and dispatching appropriate emergency services as quickly as possible.
“Daily, the 911 Emergency Communications staff of Orange County Department of Emergency Services works behind the scenes with little to no fanfare,” said Cirigliano. “Public recognition is not what they desire, rather their sense of passion truly lies in helping others, and for that I am sincerely thankful for their service to Orange County. I commend them all for their outstanding performance during an extremely difficult and trying time.”
Presented with the meritorious service award:
Dispatcher Valerie Starace – SO Dispatcher
Dispatcher Kelly Lopez – Police Priority Dispatcher
Dispatcher Amy Doty – PD South Resp Desk – Moved to assist EMS dispatcher
Dispatcher Ezra Kuliszewski – Fire/EMS Dispatcher
Dispatcher Deborah Schweikart – Fire Dispatcher
Dispatcher Brad Dain – EMS Dispatcher
Dispatcher Carrie Sager – Call-taking Dispatcher
Dispatcher Richard Pearson – Call-taking Dispatcher
Dispatcher Marc Roe – Call-taking Dispatcher
Dispatcher Matthew Murray – Call-taking Dispatcher (Relief)
Dispatcher Matthew Kahlke – Fire Dispatcher
Dispatch Trainer Angela Hicks – Backfilled Police Dispatch
Supervisor William Babcock III – B-Line 911 Supervisor
Supervisor Darren Hoffman – Training Supervisor, assisted EMS Dispatch
Supervisor Jeremy Swingle – GIS Supervisor, assisted EMS Dispatch
Supervisor Max Dugal – Assisted Police Dispatch, C-Line Supervisor
