2022 Missouri Public Safety Communications Award Winners

This year during the Spring MPSCC Awards Banquet, emergency communications professionals from around Missouri gathered to celebrate the accomplishment of their peers. 

Nominations were solicited through the early part of the year. Nominations were then reviewed by a committee comprised of the MPSCC Chair as well as the Presidents and Vice Presidents of the three Associations. 

Navigate through the following photos to learn more about the recipients of the 2022 Missouri Public Safety Communications Awards. 

Candis Stanton of Atchison County 9-1-1 was nominated and selected as the the 2022 Telecommunicator of the Year. Working at a one-seat center, 2021 challenged Candis beyond what is typically expected of those in her center. In just a six week time frame, Candis played a critical role in traumatic incidents including the drowning of a two year old on Mother's Day, a six year old and his father falling down a well in a field, and consoling the family of a juvenile who they had located deceased. Candis was the epitome of our profession, remaining calm, compassionate while getting field responders to the right location in her citizen's time of need. Congratulations to Candis Stanton on being selected as the 2022 Telecommunicator of the Year!
Candis Stanton of Atchison County 9-1-1 was nominated and selected as the the 2022 Telecommunicator of the Year. Working at a one-seat center, 2021 challenged Candis beyond what is typically expected of those in her center. In just a six week time frame, Candis played a critical role in traumatic incidents including the drowning of a two year old on Mother's Day, a six year old and his father falling down a well in a field, and consoling the family of a juvenile who they had located deceased. Candis was the epitome of our profession, remaining calm, compassionate while getting field responders to the right location in her citizen's time of need. Congratulations to Candis Stanton on being selected as the 2022 Telecommunicator of the Year!
Roger Martin of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Communications Division was nominated and selected as the 2022 'George Major' Trainer of the Year. Prior to his career with the Patrol, Roger spent 20 years serving the country in the U.S. Air Force. Following his retirement from USAF, Roger began his second career as a frontline telecommunicator at Troop E - Poplar Bluff and in 2008 was promoted to the role of the Communications Division's Chief Trainer. Aside from his daily duties of creating training content for the Patrol's new hires and veteran operators, Roger has dedicated his career to bettering Missouri's Emergency Communications Profession in Missouri by managing the Missouri Professional Training Partnership and regularly travels across the state to provide training to centers in need. Congratulations Roger Martin on being selected as the 2022 'George Major' Trainer of the Year!
Roger Martin of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Communications Division was nominated and selected as the 2022 'George Major' Trainer of the Year. Prior to his career with the Patrol, Roger spent 20 years serving the country in the U.S. Air Force. Following his retirement from USAF, Roger began his second career as a frontline telecommunicator at Troop E - Poplar Bluff and in 2008 was promoted to the role of the Communications Division's Chief Trainer. Aside from his daily duties of creating training content for the Patrol's new hires and veteran operators, Roger has dedicated his career to bettering Missouri's Emergency Communications Profession in Missouri by managing the Missouri Professional Training Partnership and regularly travels across the state to provide training to centers in need. Congratulations Roger Martin on being selected as the 2022 'George Major' Trainer of the Year!
Mike Fridley of St. Charles County Emergency Communications was nominated and selected as the 2022 Information Technologist of the Year! Mike began his career in emergency communications in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and was immediately thrown into system upgrade projects such as a new CAD that was set to go live in just a few months! Mike is responsible for leading the St. Charles ECC IT Department and all systems and databases at both the primary and back up facilities. Mike demonstrated a lead from the front mentality when he volunteered to take the evening shift covering the help-desk so that his staff could be at home for dinner with their families. He is a "constant source of positivity and enthusiasm" at St. Charles County ECC. Congratulations Mike Fridley for being selected as the 2022 Information Technologist of the Year Award!
Mike Fridley of St. Charles County Emergency Communications was nominated and selected as the 2022 Information Technologist of the Year! Mike began his career in emergency communications in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and was immediately thrown into system upgrade projects such as a new CAD that was set to go live in just a few months! Mike is responsible for leading the St. Charles ECC IT Department and all systems and databases at both the primary and back up facilities. Mike demonstrated a lead from the front mentality when he volunteered to take the evening shift covering the help-desk so that his staff could be at home for dinner with their families. He is a "constant source of positivity and enthusiasm" at St. Charles County ECC. Congratulations Mike Fridley for being selected as the 2022 Information Technologist of the Year Award!
Dwayne Kinley of St. Charles County Emergency Communications was nominated for and selected as the 2022 Radio Technologist of the Year. Dwayne leads a team of five individuals tho maintain the county-wide radio system that is also integrated with five other counties in two states. Dwayne and his team have taken on several large projects this year including hands-on updates or all field user radios, encryption and a new recording system. Congratulations Dwayne on being selected as the 2022 Radio Technologist of the Year Award.
Dwayne Kinley of St. Charles County Emergency Communications was nominated for and selected as the 2022 Radio Technologist of the Year. Dwayne leads a team of five individuals tho maintain the county-wide radio system that is also integrated with five other counties in two states. Dwayne and his team have taken on several large projects this year including hands-on updates or all field user radios, encryption and a new recording system. Congratulations Dwayne on being selected as the 2022 Radio Technologist of the Year Award.
Brandon Mcclintock of the Jasper County Service Board (JASCO) was nominated and selected as the 2022 Supervisor of the Year. As the Operations Manager, Brandon works to manage all operations and employees of JASCO directly under their Director. Brandon takes time to build a solid working relationship with every individual in the center and even the vendors who they work with. He ensures that he is one of the first people that each new hire meets, picks up extra shifts during staffing shortages and make sure he is up-to-date on emerging technology. According to his nominator, "Brandon has been a strong influence and example of how our center should always strive to operate. Calm and steady in the face of challenge, rising to the ever0higher demands of the industry, and always working to be the best version of ourselves." Congratulations Branson for being selected as the 2022 Supervisor of the Year!
Brandon Mcclintock of the Jasper County Service Board (JASCO) was nominated and selected as the 2022 Supervisor of the Year. As the Operations Manager, Brandon works to manage all operations and employees of JASCO directly under their Director. Brandon takes time to build a solid working relationship with every individual in the center and even the vendors who they work with. He ensures that he is one of the first people that each new hire meets, picks up extra shifts during staffing shortages and make sure he is up-to-date on emerging technology. According to his nominator, "Brandon has been a strong influence and example of how our center should always strive to operate. Calm and steady in the face of challenge, rising to the ever0higher demands of the industry, and always working to be the best version of ourselves." Congratulations Branson for being selected as the 2022 Supervisor of the Year!
Cheryl Konarski of the Joplin Police Department Emergency Communications Center was nominated for and selected as the 2022 Director of the Year. This past year has been an interesting one in Joplin and Cheryl has taken the bull by the horns. Due to staffing issues, Cheryl not only performed her management duties during the day, but routinely worked the overnight shift. From late summer through Christmas, Cheryl worked overnight shifts up to six days a week. During a five month stretch, she worked an average of over 160 hours in a two-week period. She lead her center through a city-wide cyber attack that left their computer systems down for an extended time, innovating and pulling from her 36 years of experience to create a way to later enter calls for service into their computer system. Congratulations Cheryl for being selected as the 2022 Director of the Year!
Cheryl Konarski of the Joplin Police Department Emergency Communications Center was nominated for and selected as the 2022 Director of the Year. This past year has been an interesting one in Joplin and Cheryl has taken the bull by the horns. Due to staffing issues, Cheryl not only performed her management duties during the day, but routinely worked the overnight shift. From late summer through Christmas, Cheryl worked overnight shifts up to six days a week. During a five month stretch, she worked an average of over 160 hours in a two-week period. She lead her center through a city-wide cyber attack that left their computer systems down for an extended time, innovating and pulling from her 36 years of experience to create a way to later enter calls for service into their computer system. Congratulations Cheryl for being selected as the 2022 Director of the Year!
Congratulations to the Independence Police Department for being selected as the 2022 Team of the Year. It is an unfortunate situation that led to this team of individuals being nominated for this award. On September 15, 2021, officers were dispatched to a possible sighting of a suspect from a shooting the previous day. During the contact, the suspect produced a handgun and shot, and ultimately killed Officer Madrid-Evans. From the start of the call, through the heartbreaking ending, these communicators did everything they could to assist the officers on scene. "While the outcome was not what any of us every hope to have, these dispatchers can know that they did absolutely everything they could and pushed themselves harder than they probably even knew they could.... The biggest part they had in the outcome was having the trauma team activated and ready for Blaize. If they weren't able to preserve his organs, 70 people would not have had their lives changed. They did this without prompting." Congratulations to the Independence Police Department Communications Division on being selected as the 2022 Team of the Year!
Congratulations to the Independence Police Department for being selected as the 2022 Team of the Year. It is an unfortunate situation that led to this team of individuals being nominated for this award. On September 15, 2021, officers were dispatched to a possible sighting of a suspect from a shooting the previous day. During the contact, the suspect produced a handgun and shot, and ultimately killed Officer Madrid-Evans. From the start of the call, through the heartbreaking ending, these communicators did everything they could to assist the officers on scene. "While the outcome was not what any of us every hope to have, these dispatchers can know that they did absolutely everything they could and pushed themselves harder than they probably even knew they could.... The biggest part they had in the outcome was having the trauma team activated and ready for Blaize. If they weren't able to preserve his organs, 70 people would not have had their lives changed. They did this without prompting." Congratulations to the Independence Police Department Communications Division on being selected as the 2022 Team of the Year!
Going boating with your family as a 17 year old is supposed to be relaxing, not terrifying. For Rose, this event truly showed the heroic actions that any daughter, son, brother, sister or stranger can take. During a boat outing on Truman Lake with her father and two younger siblings, Rose's father began to fill ill and ultimately dialed 9-1-1. Unfortunately, shortly after placing the call her father lost consciousness and stopped breathing. Rose quickly picked up the phone, spoke with the call taker, and followed pre-arrival instructions until her father was revived. She later followed call taker instructions to operate a boat she had never operated before and was able to safely deliver her father and siblings to first responder who waited on shore. Congratulations to Rose Baker on being selected as the 2022 Hero of the Year!
Going boating with your family as a 17 year old is supposed to be relaxing, not terrifying. For Rose, this event truly showed the heroic actions that any daughter, son, brother, sister or stranger can take. During a boat outing on Truman Lake with her father and two younger siblings, Rose's father began to fill ill and ultimately dialed 9-1-1. Unfortunately, shortly after placing the call her father lost consciousness and stopped breathing. Rose quickly picked up the phone, spoke with the call taker, and followed pre-arrival instructions until her father was revived. She later followed call taker instructions to operate a boat she had never operated before and was able to safely deliver her father and siblings to first responder who waited on shore. Congratulations to Rose Baker on being selected as the 2022 Hero of the Year!

2022 Nominations

Telecommunicator of the Year

  • Summer Onyeukwu – Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1
  • Candis Stanton – Atchison County 9-1-1
  • Ashley Burkemper – St. Charles County Emergency Communications 

 

‘George Major’ Trainer of the Year

  • Brian Garms – St. Charles County Emergency Communications 
  • Kendra Shell – Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop E
  • Roger Martin – Missouri State Highway Patrol GHQ

 

Radio & Information Technologist of the Year

  • Steven Williams – JASCO
  • Mike Fridley – St. Charles County Emergency Communications 
  • Wesley Taylor – Christian County Emergency Services
  • Dwayne Kinley – St. Charles County Emergency Communications 

 

Supervisor of the Year

  • Ellen Biesemeyer – JASCO
  • Jennifer Courson – St. Charles County Emergency Communications 
  • Patricia Kinealy – East Central Dispatch Center 
  • Mechelle Siegrist – Christian County Emergency Services
  • Gregg Henry – Joplin Emergency Communications Center
  • Brandon Mcclintock – JASCO
  • Crissie Cook – Christian County Emergency Services

 

Director of the Year

  • Brad England – Crawford County 9-1-1
  • Kris Inman – Springfield-Greene County 9-1-1
  • Kim Davis – Ray County 9-1-1
  • Cheryl Konarski – Joplin Emergency Communications Center 
  • Mike Lawton – Christian County Emergency Services

 

Team of the Year

  • Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop E
  • Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop D
  • Joplin Emergency Communications Center
  • Christian County Emergency Services
  • Independence Police Department