Harford County Public Safety Dispatchers Honored by Emergency Number Systems Board

From Harford County government:

Noelle Adams, Public Safety Dispatcher III and John Lamana, Public Safety Dispatcher II were recently honored for outstanding service by the Maryland Emergency Number Association and the Emergency Number Systems Board at the 11th annual “9 1 1 Day of Celebration”. The event was hosted at the Kent Island Volunteer Fire Department in Chester, Maryland.

Telecommunicators Adams and Lamana were among more than 30 individuals or units from 23 jurisdictions throughout Maryland to receive the coveted “Telecommunicator of the Year” award.

The two individuals were nominated by Ross Coates, Emergency Communications Manager for the Harford County Department of Emergency Services.

In the nomination of Public Safety Dispatcher Adams, Coates stated, “Noelle has taken it upon herself to learn and teach every day. She routinely provides professional, constructive useful comments on ways for improvement in the communications center”. Coates added, “Her knowledge with the systems used every day allows her to optimize her work pattern and help others to do the same”.

Adams began her career in 2000 and has worked her way through each dispatch discipline. She is currently one of a select few dispatchers who are able to perform all dispatch positions in the consolidated communications center.

Public Safety Dispatcher Lamana began his career with the Department in 2003 as an entry level Public Safety Dispatcher. In his nomination Mr. Lamana, Coates stated, “Billy has a strong knowledge base in technology which allows him to use the system in the dispatch center in the most effective and efficient means. He remains un-rattled even during the busiest of times. Billy approaches every day with a “bring it on” attitude and his calm voice and demeanor is the reassurance responders look for to know there is a true professional watching over them”.

“The Harford County 9 1 1 Communications Center is staffed with highly qualified, professionals who serve with distinction 365 a year,” Coates said. “I am proud to work with such a dedicated group of employees,” Coates added.

Commenting on the distinguished awards received by Noelle Adams and John “Billy” Lamana, Russell J. Strickland, Director of the Department of Emergency Services said, “Noelle and Billy are truly valuable telecommunicators who consistently perform at the highest level of achievement. We join with the Maryland Emergency Number Association and the Emergency Number Systems Board in saluting the outstanding performance of our employees,” Strickland remarked.