Harrison County Emergency Services

Harrison County Bureau of Emergency Services

Corporal Chyrl Hitt
Telecommunicator Jeff Barnhart
Telecommunicator Teddie Williams
Telecommunicator Jim Cottrill

These employees were on duty at the time a 911 call was received on Saturday, December 8 2001. The incident was a two-vehicle accident on Route 50 at the intersection with Route 23 near the Harrison/Doddridge County line. They began receiving multiple calls concerning the accident, and the information received advised them there were multiple patients, some of which were entrapped in the vehicles.

The incident required multiple departments be dispatched, which was done in a timely and efficient manner. Throughout the course of the incident, these employees also had to contend with other phone and radio traffic, which on a Saturday evening is usually a sizeable workload. There were numerous notifications and details to attend to, and thanks to the skill and job knowledge displayed by these employees, the communications-related aspect of the incident was handled with little or no problem.

A paramedic who normally works in another county was on duty in Harrison County at the time of the accident. That medic contacted the Bureau and complimented these employees for the way they handled the incident. We thank this individual for taking the time to call and congratulate these professionals. Positive feedback goes a long way in our line of work.

The Bureau congratulates Chyrl, Jeff, Teddie and Jim for a job well done. Their efforts, and their achievements, are greatly appreciated.

Sgt. Robert Crawford
Telecommunicator Nathen Goff

These Bureau employees were on duty during the midnight shift on March 20, 2002. Sgt. Crawford answered a 9-1-1 call concerning a stolen vehicle from the Bridgeport section of Harrison County. The owner of the vehicle was the complainant, and was following it in another vehicle. Seconds after the call began, Telecommunicator Goff dispatched an alert message on all police radio frequencies. Sgt. Crawford maintained telephone contact with the owner of the vehicle, and Telecommunicator Goff kept the responding units up to date on the vehicle's description and direction of travel.

Thanks to the quick actions of Sgt. Crawford and Telecommunicator Goff, the vehicle was located and recovered, undamaged, by the responding units in less than fifteen minutes. They functioned as a team, each drawing on the skills and accuracy of the other. The Bureau applauds their commitment to quality dispatching.

Corporal Greg Skidmore
Telecommunicator Nathen Goff
Telecommunicator Sabrina Wilson
Telecommunicator Jim Cottrill

These individuals were on duty on Sunday, May 26 2002 when a trooper from the West Virginia State Police initiated a foot pursuit in the community of Center Branch, located on Route 20 South of Nutter Fort. The suspect turned out to be a wanted person, and was entered into the National Crime Information Center system. The suspect fled into a wooded area, at which point the West Virginia State Police instituted a ground search.

This incident required numerous notifications, including but not limited to Canine Search Units, helicopters, additional law enforcement agencies, the Bureau's mobile communications vehicle and additional Bureau staff to operate the vehicle, and the West Virginia Division of Health and Human Resources. The employees on duty at the time of the incident were able to obtain a photograph of the suspect, and they made sure copies were distributed to responding units. The incident generated a large amount of phone, radio, and teletype traffic, but these employees were able to process the information, as well as additional incidents that came through the Communications Room throughout the search.

Sergeant Joe DeMark
Corporal Chyrl Hitt
Telecommunicator Jeff Barnhart
Telecommunicator Teddie Williams

At approximately 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 8 2002, a 9-1-1 call was received concerning a female who was the victim of a strong-arm robbery. The incident occurred near the Kroger grocery store at the Eastpointe Shopping Center in Clarksburg. A description of the female suspect and the vehicle she fled the scene in was quickly obtained, and was broadcast over all police frequencies, which resulted in a marked increase in radio traffic.

Within minutes, the scene was saturated with officers from the Clarksburg Police Department. Thanks to the precision of their investigation, and the actions of the Bureau employees listed, the suspect's vehicle was located in Clarksburg approximately forty-five minutes after the call was received. Moments later, the suspect was in custody. The victim's property was located, and returned to her.

This incident created a fast-paced, resource-intensive period in the Bureau's Communications Center. These Bureau employees displayed great skill as they coordinated a vast amount of radio and phone traffic, and drew upon the resources of agencies outside Harrison County. Thanks in no small part to their actions and superb decision-making, the incident came to a successful conclusion. Special thanks go out to the Clarksburg Police Department officers involved in the incident. Their training and cooperation with the Bureau helped ease the workload during the call.

Corporal Chyrl Hitt
Telecommunicator Derek McIntyre
Telecommunicator Mike Coffey
Telecommunicator Kristen Goff

On Saturday, June 15 2002 Corporal Hitt took a 9-1-1 call from a male subject calling from a payphone at the Eastpointe Shopping Center in Clarksburg. The caller spoke Spanish, but limited English, and his requests for help were difficult to comprehend. With patience and persistence, Chyrl attempted to determine the nature of the caller's emergency. She tried to keep the caller on the phone while she contacted an interpreter. The caller did not understand her instructions, and ended the conversation.

Moments later, the subject called 9-1-1 again, and spoke with Mike Coffey, who kept him on the phone while Chyrl contacted an interpreter with the AT&T Language Line service. The caller was then able to relay through the interpreter the nature of his emergency. During this time, Kristen Goff dispatched a Clarksburg Police Officer to the Eastpointe Shopping Center to make sure the caller was okay, and not in any immediate danger. Kristen also assumed responsibility for Chyrl's radio duties while Chyrl kept the caller and the interpreter on the phone. Derek McIntyre and Mike Coffey provided assistance by taking care of the required notifications during the incident.

The Clarksburg officer was able to make contact with the caller, and with his assistance, and the services of the AT&T Language Line interpreter, the situation was resolved. While the incident was not a life or death emergency, it required the use of personnel and resources not called upon on a regular basis. The patience, persistence, and dedication of these Bureau employees deserve recognition for a job well done.

Sergeant Pegi Bailey
Corporal Rob Cowger
Telecommunicator Mike Coffey
Telecommunicator Kristen Goff

Telecommunicator Kristen Goff received a 9-1-1 call at approximately 4 p.m. on May 25 2002. The caller was a male subject allegedly in possession of a firearm, and was threatening suicide. Kristen kept the caller on the phone while Telecommunicator Mike Coffey dispatched law enforcement to the caller's location. Sergeant Pegi Bailey immediately took over Kristen's radio duties, which left her free to focus on the caller.

Kristen spent over an hour on the phone, reassuring the caller and earning his trust when he chose to talk, and listening to what went on at the caller's location when he was away from the phone. A friend of the caller came to the phone during the early stages of the incident, and was instructed by Kristen to leave the area and seek shelter. As she continued to deal with the caller, Mike and Corporal Rob Cowger made the necessary notifications, while dealing with their primary phone and radio responsibilities.

The caller grew agitated towards the end of the incident, but through the use of a calm, comforting tone of voice, sincerity, and the favored tool of Telecommunicators - repetitive persistence - Kristen was able to get the caller to put down the firearm and speak to the law enforcement units on scene. Thanks to Kristen's negotiating skills, and her willingness to do whatever necessary to help, the call was resolved in a way that proved beneficial to all.

Interaction between Telecommunicators is always important. During this incident, the teamwork displayed by these four Bureau employees was beyond comparison.

Telecommunicator Sabrina Wilson
Corporal Greg Skidmore
Telecommunicator Jeff Barnhart
Telecommunicator Nathen Goff

Telecommunicator Sabrina Wilson answered a 9-1-1 call on June 30th 2002 from a male subject who was upset over a family dispute, and who threatened to shoot anyone who tried to enter his home. Sabrina kept the caller on the phone until law enforcement units arrived, secured the scene, and made contact with the male caller. While she spoke to the caller, Sabrina was able to obtain critical information such as the caller's level of intoxication, the type of firearm in his possession, his location inside the residence, and where the caller and the weapon were positioned in relation to the entrance to the residence. Sabrina's patience and persistence were rewarded as she gained the caller's trust. She convinced him to put down the weapon, and leave the residence to meet with the law enforcement units. A potentially dangerous situation was resolved without injury, thanks to Sabrina's efforts.

Throughout the course of the incident, the other Bureau employees on duty at the time did their part to ensure a peaceful resolution. Telecommunicator Nathen Goff dealt with the law enforcement radio traffic, and kept the units involved up to date with the latest information. Telecommunicator Jeff Barnhart covered phone and other radio traffic while Sabrina and Nathen focused on their duties. Corporal Greg Skidmore offered guidance to Sabrina while she spoke to the caller, and he saw to it that all phone and radio traffic were properly and promptly addressed.

The actions of these four Bureau employees, especially those of Sabrina Wilson, are a prime example of how teamwork is vital to the operations of an Enhanced 9-1-1 Center. The Bureau thanks these individuals, and commends them for a job well done.

Telecommunicator Teddie Williams
Captain Bryan Lowther
Telecommunicator Mike Coffey
Telecommunicator Kristen Goff

Telecommunicator Teddie Williams answered a Sheriff's Department business line on July 5th 2002 from a male caller, who was upset and threatened to commit suicide. The caller did not want to give his name, or say where he lived. Since the call did not come in to the Bureau on a 9-1-1 line, there was no automatic listing of the phone number, or the location registered to the number. It was up to Teddie to retrieve the information from the caller.

While Teddie stayed on the line and attempted to gain the caller's trust, Captain Bryan Lowther contacted those responsible for conducting a live phone line trace, in an effort to find out where the caller was located, and what number was in use. Telecommunicators Mike Coffey and Kristen Goff began assembling resources such as city directories, telephone books, and the Bureau's Computer Aided Dispatching software archives for use as more information was obtained. The caller slowly began to offer information about his life, and his location. Through past experience with similar calls, Teddie and Bryan began to form a list of subjects who might fall within the boundaries of the information given by the male caller. The caller then offered a piece of information that confirmed their suspicions, and based on their knowledge, law enforcement units were dispatched to what they hoped would be the caller's location. The responding units were also familiar with calls of a similar nature, and in moments they arrived on scene at the caller's residence.

The caller refused to let the officers into his residence. Teddie continued to speak with the caller, and tried to get him to answer the door and speak to the officers. The caller relented, and met the officers at the door. Moments later, the officers advised the situation was settled, and no further assistance was necessary. The successful completion of this incident was due to the actions and training of the Bureau employees listed.

Lieutenant Chris Cutright

Lieutenant Cutright answered a 9-1-1 call on July 23rd 2002 from a hysterical female. The caller was with another woman, who had just given birth. The caller was initially unable to provide a useful set of directions for the responding units. Thanks to Chris' years of experience as a Telecommunicator, and his patience, persistence, and professionalism, he was able to obtain an accurate set of directions. He was also able to provide crucial pre-arrival instructions while the responding units made their way to the scene.

Thanks to Chris' actions, the caller was able to provide for the newborn and its mother until Fire and EMS units arrived at the scene.

Telecommunicator Nathen Goff
Telecommunicator Sabrina Wilson
Telecommunicator Trainee Travis Miller

Telecommunicator Sabrina Wilson answered a 9-1-1 call during the midnight shift on September 22nd, 2002. The call was from two young males who were lost, and in need of assistance. They were new to the area, and had recently moved to Harrison County from out-of-state. They had been to a party, and were allegedly assaulted. They fled the home, with sounds of gunshots echoing behind them. The two called 9-1-1 from a cell phone, and were not sure of their location.

The information the two males initially provided led Sabrina to believe the location was not in Harrison County, so the call was transferred to an adjacent county. Sabrina stayed on the line with the males, as they were questioned by the other county's 9-1-1 operator. Sabrina and the out-of-county Telecommunicator asked numerous questions, and with the answers provided, Sabrina was able to determine the call was in Harrison County. She asked the males to describe vehicles, landmarks, fire locator numbers, anything they could see that would help her determine their exact location.

The callers were able to provide license plate numbers for two vehicles parked in the area. The plates were ran, and with the responses, Sabrina was able to pinpoint their location. The information was relayed to the responding law enforcement units, who were told to activate their emergency lights as they approached the area. The males were advised to watch for the officers' emergency lights, and in moments, they were located and the situation was resolved.

Telecommunicator Nathen Goff monitored Sabrina's conversation with the males, throughout the course of the incident. He provided Sabrina with some of the questions she asked the two, as she tried to determine their location. Telecommunicator Trainee Travis Miller handled the law enforcement radio traffic, and he covered other frequencies throughout the course of the incident. Thanks to the actions of these three employees, the incident was handled in a quick and efficient manner.

Captain Mark Hartman
Sergeant Bob Crawford
Corporal Greg Skidmore
Telecommunicator Nathen Goff
Telecommunicator Jeff Barnhart

These employees employees, with the exception of Jeff Barnhart, were on duty during the afternoon / evening hours of January 1st 2003. Corporal Greg Skidmore and Telecommunicator Nathen Goff received calls within seconds of each other, involving an alleged armed robbery incident at a local convenience store. Nathen advised Greg he had gathered enough information for dispatch, which enabled Greg to quickly end his call, and dispatch law enforcement towards the scene of the incident. An alert message was done on all law enforcement radio frequencies, and an adjoining county's 9-1-1 center was notified as a precaution. The alert message was updated throughout the course of the incident, in a timely and efficient manner.

Thanks to the call taking abilities of Greg and Nathen, the suspect vehicle's license plate number was obtained, which gave them the ability to determine the name and address of the owner. The information was relayed to the responding units. The address information, unfortunately, was a rural postal address. Telecommunicator Jeff Barnhart, who was monitoring the radio traffic, was familiar with the area covered by the postal address, and he was able to relay the information to one of the units. Less than thirty minutes after the call was received, the suspect vehicle, and the alleged suspect, were located.

Captain Mark Hartman and Sergeant Bob Crawford proved to be invaluable during this incident. Both of them covered Nathen and Greg's phone and radio traffic, when they were occupied with incident-related tasks. Mark and Bob also fielded telephone calls from other law enforcement units, and members of the local media.

Lieutenant David Wine
Corporal Greg Skidmore
Telecommunicator Sabrina Martin
Telecommunicator Travis Miller

These four employees were on duty during the afternoon hours of January 6 2003. During the first two hours of their shift, they dispatched more than sixty incidents. The majority of these incidents were winter weather-related, and included several vehicle accidents. One accident involved multiple patient entrapment, which generated a huge amount of radio and phone traffic. Combined with the overwhelming number of emergency calls and the resulting traffic, these incidents tested the skills of the four individuals listed above, and they passed with flying colors.

Not only did they handle all phone and radio traffic in a timely and efficient manner, they did so in a calm and professional way, as expected of each and every member of the Bureau. By the end of their shift, they learned they had processed well over 2/3 of their workload in the first two hours.

Telecommunicator Jeff Barnhart
Telecommunicator Teddie Williams
Telecommunicator Derek McIntyre
Telecommunicator Sabrina Martin

These four employees were on duty during the mid-afternoon hours on April 11 2003. A call received at the 9-1-1 center involving a vehicle accident with injuries on Interstate 79 in Harrison County. This led to a high number of additional calls received from passing motorists, and generated an extraordinary amount of radio traffic. Jeff, Teddie, Derek, and Sabrina pulled together and conducted themselves as a highly efficient team. They successfully dealt with not only the related phone and radio traffic, but stayed on top of other calls that demanded attention throughout the course of the accident.

Special recognition goes to Jeff Barnhart, who exerted his influence in the Communications Room to make sure everything was handled in a calm and professional manner. His multi-tasking and decision-making skills played a large part in the successful handling of the incident.

Lieutenant Andy Bailey
Sergeant Joe DeMark
Telecommunicator Teddie Williams
Telecommunicator Nathen Goff
Telecommunicator Trainee Steve Lawrence
Telecommunicator Trainee Sandra McNeil

These employees were working during the afternoon and evening hours of June 18, 2003. In the space of little more than an hour, they received and dispatched two severe vehicle accidents with injuries. Both accidents occurred within a few miles of each other, and both involved subjects trapped in their vehicles. To make matters worse, the first accident also involved a vehicle fire. Every ambulance in use by the Harrison County Emergency Squad that day were utilized. In addition, a total of five aero medical units were called upon to assist with patient transports. There were further hardships encountered by these employees, caused by an interruption of the electrical service at the Bureau. They were forced to operate while the Bureau was on reserve power.

The actions taken by the six Bureau employees listed were exemplary. In addition to his responsibilities as shift supervisor, Lt. Andy Bailey handled the Fire and EMS frequencies. Managing radio communications for two high-priority incidents at the same time was no easy task, but Andy was more than ready to meet the challenge. Sgt. Joe DeMark and Telecommunicators Teddie Williams and Nathen Goff did an outstanding job, processing not only their assigned radio traffic, but dealing with the onslaught of additional phone and radio traffic caused by the two vehicle accidents. With the four experienced employees occupied with their duties, it fell upon Trainees Steve Lawrence and Sandra McNeil to deal with support tasks such as phone and radio traffic unrelated to the accidents.

Special thanks go out to the member agencies who responded to the vehicle accidents. Their quick response, and their professionalism throughout the incidents helped these employees immensely from a communications standpoint.

Sergeant Pegi Bailey

Pegi was on duty during midnight shift on October 15 2003, when she received a 9-1-1 call from a male subject threatening suicide. He was part of an active investigation involving a check on his welfare, as he had allegedly made suicidal references to an online acquaintance. The male subject would not provide Pegi with his location. With patience and understanding, Pegi was able to establish a rapport with the caller, and earned his trust. Using deductive reasoning, information received from the male's friends and family members, and her listening skills, Pegi was able to determine the caller was outside and using a cell phone, and she deduced his approximate location.

The law enforcement units assigned to the incident were given a general area/street to search. Within minutes, an officer made contact with the male subject, who was armed with a loaded handgun. He surrendered without incident, and agreed to a voluntary commitment to a nearby hospital for treatment and observation.

Captain Mark Hartman
Lieutenant David Wine
Sergeant Bob Crawford
Telecommunicator Travis Miller
Deputy Bureau Chief Paul Bump
Bureau Chief Fred Smart
Assistant Chief Connie Chico
Telecommunicator Jeff Barnhart
Telecommunicator Nathen Goff
Telecommunicator Kristen Goff

Captain Hartman, Lieutenant Wine, Sergeant Crawford, Telecommunicator Miller, and Deputy Bureau Chief Bump were on duty on July 10 2003 when they were besieged with weather-related phone and radio traffic. A violent storm had swept through Harrison County, which resulted in several vehicle accidents with injuries, flooding, downed power lines, downed trees, and an assortment of requests for emergency service. These employees called upon their talent and training in order to quickly and efficiently render aid to those in need, both the general public, and the public safety personnel who responded to the dispatched incidents.

Bureau Chief Smart, Assistant Chief Chico and Telecommunicators Barnhart and Goff, Nathen and Kristen, took the initiative to respond to the Bureau on their off-time. They provided valuable back-up assistance, answering phones and providing breaks for the on-duty employees. Their actions greatly improved the quality of service the scheduled crew were able to deliver to the citizens of Harrison County.