Wood County 911 names Shriver Telecommunicator of the Year
Wood County 911 Center Deputy Director Mike Shook, left, presents the 2022 Telecommunicator of the Year award to Dispatcher Rachael Shriver Thursday at the center. The award is voted on by employees. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Wood County Sheriff and 911 Director Rick Woodyard, left, poses for a photo with Dispatcher Rachael Shriver, the 911 Center’s 2022 Telecommunicator of the Year, Thursday at the center. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Wood County 911 Center Deputy Director Mike Shook, left, recognizes Dispatcher Ethan Spencer for working at the center for three years and having a 4-second average 911 call answering time Thursday at the center. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Wood County 911 Center Deputy Director Mike Shook, left, presents the 2022 Telecommunicator of the Year award to Dispatcher Rachael Shriver Thursday at the center. The award is voted on by employees. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Wood County Sheriff and 911 Director Rick Woodyard, left, poses for a photo with Dispatcher Rachael Shriver, the 911 Center’s 2022 Telecommunicator of the Year, Thursday at the center. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Wood County 911 Center Deputy Director Mike Shook, left, recognizes Dispatcher Ethan Spencer for working at the center for three years and having a 4-second average 911 call answering time Thursday at the center. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
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PARKERSBURG -- Wood County 911 Center Dispatcher Rachael Shriver answered 2,636 calls on 911 lines in 2022, picking them up in an average of 4 seconds.
"The national standard is 10 seconds," said William Riffle, operations coordinator for the center.
Shriver's skill at her job, and the way she approaches it, earned her recognition Thursday as the center's Telecommunicator of the Year, an honor voted on by her peers.
"She's a dedicated employee," Riffle said after the award was presented Thursday at the center. "She's got a good record of attendance, a good attitude, she helps out quite a bit."
Shriver said it was a privilege to receive the award. She's been a dispatcher for three years and enjoys the job.
"I like knowing that I'm making a difference, that I'm here to help people in a time of need," Shriver said.
Representatives of the Fraternal Order of Police Blennerhassett Lodge No. 79 and the Wood County Deputy Sheriffs Association presented Shriver with gift cards.
Other 911 dispatchers and supervisors were recognized for their job performance as well Thursday, during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in Wood County.
Dispatcher Amber Deem answered the most calls, 4,521, in calendar year 2022, followed by Jamie Garcia with 3,074.
Deem was also recognized for the best call-answering time, as she was one of five dispatchers with a 4-second average, though she maintained it over the largest number of calls. Honorable mentions for best call-answering time were also given to Garcia, Shriver, Barbara Kuhl and Ethan Spencer.
Kuhl was recognized for supervising the shift with the best call-answering time, a 4.6-second average. Fellow Supervisor Dustin Matheny received an honorable mention for his shift's 4.7-second rate.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.