Each year, the second week in April marks National Public Safety Telecommunicators week, and is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the people responsible for connecting the communities Rutgers Public Safety serves with the resources our communities need. 

Lauren McLelland, Director 911 Telecommunications said, “The work at a 9-1-1 telecommunications desk is incredibly difficult and there is a lot of pressure. I am glad that we can take time during this week to have a little fun and recognize the hard work of our Public Safety Telecommunications team.”

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Diamond Holloman, Scott Griffin, and Fran Cosgrove, display their certificates.
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McLelland detailed highlights from the week including a dispatchers’ cutest pet contest. Maverick, pictured, right, with his headset, was the overwhelming winner.

Other dispatcher’s dogs who joined their owners at work included Gotti, Loki, and Lily. All were extremely well behaved and attentive to the calls coming through.

A Gratitude Tree allowed coworkers to identify the positive impacts their colleagues have on their work day. The week also included chair massages, and Coffee with Comms, where field personnel sat down with telecommunicators to put faces to the voices they hear over the radio and discuss ways to support each other.

Special thanks to Rutgers Central Patrol, New Brunswick PD, and Metuchen PD for participating.

Awards were doled out as well:

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Maverick was the winner of the Cutest Pet Contest. 
Other communicators’ dogs enjoyed the fun 
that day, including Gotti, Loki, and Lily.
  • The Workhorse Award recognized the person who worked the most OT for the year.
    Winner: Stephen Russo, Public Safety Telecommunicator.
     
  • The Person of Steel Award recognized the person who used the least amount of sick time for the year.
    Winner: Diamond Holloman, Public Safety. Telecommunicator.
     
  • The Phantom Award recognized the person who is always early for the shift.
    Winner: Diamond Holloman, Public Safety. Telecommunicator.
     
  • The Gumby Award recognized the person who is always flexible.
    Winner: Diamond Holloman, Public Safety. Telecommunicator.
     
  • The Captain America Award recognized the person who always stands up for what is right no matter the odds.
    Winner: Kirsten Burr, Public Safety Telecommunicator
     
  • The Simon Cowell Award recognized the person who you can always count on to be brutally honest.
    Winner: Fran Cosgrove Public Safety Telecommunicator
     
  • Best Guesser for guessing the number of candy in a jar.
    Winner: Scott Griffin Public Safety Telecommunicator

A special thanks to Communications Supervisor Eileen Alicea who went above and beyond in making this year’s celebration a success. We appreciate you!

Finally, on a more serious note, Kenneth Cop, Vice President Public Safety and Chief of RUPD recognized the group in a formal letter.

Featured in the IP&O Newsletter, May 2024.