Anonym / Thursday, April 29, 2021 / Categories: News, Press Releases, Home Page Will County honors 9-1-1 Telecommunicators Calm, cool, collected. The 145 highly trained professionals who operate Will County’s 9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System (ETS) are always available to offer assistance to those in need. These everyday heroes are not the people who arrive on scene to render aid but they are responsible for answering 316,000 9-1-1 calls annually and ensuring the proper aid is directed to the correct location. Recently, the ETS honored telecommunicators for their outstanding service.“All of us expect when we dial 9-1-1, there will be a person on the line who will be able to help,” said Anthony Marzano, chief administrator for the Will County ETS. “Our telecommunicators are the lifeline to people in an emergency. Not only must they stay calm, they must assess the situation the caller is describing and determine the appropriate resources needed – all in a short period of time.”The 2021 Telecommunicator of the Year is Jennifer Chizmark, who was nominated by her co-worker for her abilities as primary acting supervisor when the Joliet Dispatch Center was split up due to social distancing requirements for COVID-19 restrictions. Chizmark managed the center’s schedule and often picked up extra shifts to prevent staff shortages.Also nominated was Jennifer Pinnick by Director of the Laraway Communications Center Denise Pavlik who recommended Pinnick because “she is a leader by example recognized by her co-workers for her positive attitude, her willingness to help others, her flexibility on assignments, and ability to work most all positions at LCC.”Mike Chuffo was nominated by Pamela Buzan, Western Will County Communications (WESCOM) Deputy Director, who said, “Mike is able to relay critical information to responding units, provide pre-arrival instruction to callers, and assist coworkers simultaneously.”The Will County 9-1-1 ETS is comprised of LCC, WESCOM, and Joliet which serve all police and fire departments across Will County. These dedicated professionals handled more than 665,000 emergency and non-emergency incidents last year. County Executive Jennifer Bertino Tarrant said it is important to recognize these committed employees who go above and beyond their normal duties.“I am very proud of these dedicated employees who work tirelessly each day to ensure the public safety of Will County,” Bertino Tarrant said. “The world of emergency telephone service has changed dramatically since cellular telephones have almost surpassed the number of landlines. These telecommunicators have to be much more diligent in gathering information.”Amber Johnson and Kim Kreml from WESCOM were honored with Life Saving Awards. Telecommunicators honored with Individual Merit Awards include Katrina Bobel, Breanna Brouillette, Meghan Callahan, Sabrina Justice, Randi McHugh, Jennifer Pinnick, John Trendl, Liz Valencia all from the LCC, and Elise Wilson from WESCOM. Several other telecommunicators received Meritorious Team Commendations for their exemplary performances.“Will County has worked hard to improve the efficiency of its emergency telephone system,” Marzano said. “With our newest dispatch center located on the Public Safety Complex, we are employing new technology and consistently enhancing our system. We are fortunate to have a staff of well-trained telecommunicators.” Previous Article WILL COUNTY VACCINATIONS TRIPLE, 25.36% OF RESIDENTS ARE FULLY VACCINATED Next Article Mobile Workforce Center schedule includes new stop in Crete Print 4484 Tags: Will CountyJoliet9-1-1 Emergency Telephone System Boardtelecommunicatorsemergencyoperatorspublic safetywescomLaraway Communications Center Documents to download 2021 telecommunicators of the year 4-28-21(.pdf, 889.05 KB) - 195 download(s)