SCSO dispatcher named Telecommunicator of the Year

WALLACE — Most are familiar with the “thin blue line” or “thin red line” sayings that pay tribute to those men and women who keep our organized society from falling into chaos. An often-overlooked variant of these sayings is the “thin yellow (or gold) line,” which recognizes the efforts of the Public Safety Communications Officers, Emergency Telecommunicators, or more commonly known as 911 dispatchers.

It is vital that these dispatchers keep cool heads under pressure and communicate in a articulate manner, as they are often tasked with being the only source of information and updates for emergency crews on the ground dealing with a situation (whatever it may be).

Suzanne Evans, a dispatcher with the Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office, was told that she had been awarded the title of Idaho Telecommunicator of the Year on Sept. 1 for doing just that.

Given out by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials and the National Emergency Number Association, the award is meant to recognize a “Telecommunicator who handled a critical incident in an exemplary manner that positively affected its outcome.”

Evans exemplified this professional behavior on the night of May 11 when 32-year-old Tyle Lee Potts went on a drug-fueled rampage through the city of Kellogg.

It was around 11 p.m. that night when Idaho State Police troopers first called in Potts’s suspicious behavior to dispatch, reporting that he was damaging several cars belonging to Dave Smith Motors by ramming his 2000 GMC Yukon into them. After he failed to yield to these troopers, a prolonged and chaotic pursuit through the streets of Kellogg began.

For nearly two hours, Evans alone was tasked with tracking the suspect, the damage he was causing and relaying pertinent information to emergency crews so that he could eventually be tracked down.

Potts briefly drove on the wrong way of Interstate 90, damaged at least 11 vehicles, damaged several structures such as sheds and a church, hit a tree and a chain link fence, attempted to run over a police officer, got shot at as a result, attempted to escape on foot by jumping into the back of a passing truck, got ejected from said truck, choked out a police K9 and got tasered before being arrested.

“I was worried for everyone as the driver was so desperate to get away and we had no idea who it was and what he may be capable of,” Evans said recounting that day. “He was literally all over town. Citizens calling in gave great information on his latest location and it really helped to locate him and ultimately arrest him.”

According to SCSO Communications Director Casey VanBuskirk, Evans was there every step of the way, providing radio communications as needed and making telephone notifications to the sheriff, supervisors and other department heads as requested.

While she was handling the emergency, she was juggling multiple 911 calls — where she provided safety advisories and reassurances while withholding pertinent details that she relayed to law enforcement. To top it all off, she was also still operating the jail security doors for detention staff.

“This single call had all of the criteria deserving of the highest recognition,” VanBuskirk said in his award nomination of Evans. “It involved crashes, a pursuit, eluding, manhunt, officer involved shooting and capture! Suzanne’s attentiveness, customer service, proficiency and calmness under fire are qualities that all dispatchers should have. However, in this particular case, when the level of stress was at its highest, where there were multiple units, agencies and jurisdictions involved and the nature of the call demanded the maximum amount of attention, Suzanne shined! (She) maintained this ultra-high level of vigilance on her own for nearly two hours.”

VanBuskirk made sure to also note her exemplary handling of the “shots fired” part of the incident in particular.

“Suzanne used the echo technique and repeated the radio traffic of shots fired, with no change of tone, volume or inflection in her voice,” he said. “Her demeanor on the radio added nothing adverse to radio traffic and in no way did she add any extra stress or distractions to the incident. This allowed law enforcement to focus on the task at hand.”

Though she has worked a few pursuits in her two-and-a-half-year time at SCSO, Evans had never dealt with one where shots were fired.

“Those few minutes after hearing those words (shots fired) were very scary,” she said. “I am so thankful no one was injured and the subject was arrested.”

Presented the award on Oct. 2 in Coeur d’Alene, Evans is happy to have received the honor, but was quick to recognize the rest of her team as well.

“I am truly humbled,” she said. “Every one of my co-workers have taken and handled calls that deserve an award. The main goal is to work the call and get everyone where they need to go and then home safely.”

“Thank you to my supervisor Casey Vanbuskirk for the nomination and all of my co-workers for the continued support. We all have good and bad days, but we always support each other,” she added.