Sammy Scalise received his award for the 2024 Telecommunicator of the Year and a special thanks from the president of the local Fraternal Order of Police. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

PARKERSBURG — The 2024 Telecommunicator of the Year was earned by Sammy Scalise during the annual Wood County 911 Center awards Thursday.

Scalise was rewarded for his dedication to the 911 Center and how he often worked 20 hours overtime to accomplish what needed to be done.

“It’s been six years and I enjoy working with all of you and you make the job what it is,” said Scalise. “I appreciate each and every one of you.”

From April 13-19, Wood County is celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

The telecommunicators were recognized for their work as first-line responders and thanked by members of law enforcement.

Police and dispatchers stand together for a photo with Sammy Scalise after the award ceremony on Thursday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Wood County 911 Director Mike Shook delivered a brief announcement on the winners and their statistics as each telecommunicator was recognized for their work.

Last year’s telecommunicator of the year, Jamie Garcia, was awarded honorable mention for 2,242 calls in 2024.

“She steps up to the plate when needed more than anybody else,” said Shook.

Amber Deem was another honorable mention for most 911 calls answered with 2,949 calls at a 4-second average. She thanked Shook and accepted her award.

These averages are calculated based on from the time the phone rings to when the telecommunicator answers. The top telecommunicators at the Wood County 911 Center were averaging 4 seconds on their calls.

Telecommunicator Amber Deem accepts her award for honorable mention of most 911 calls answered with a total of 2,949 calls. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

In order to achieve best 911 call answering times, the telecommunicator must reach 2,000.

Garcia, Hollie Hickman, Ethan Spencer, Barbara Kuhl, Deem and Allison Leach all exceeded 2,000 calls by a few hundred.

Best average call answering times were achieved at 3 second averages by Rachel Morgan, Rachael Shriver and Valeria Doolittle.

In 2024, the 911 Center received 45,624 calls with a daily average of 125.

The National Standards for average call answering time is 10 seconds with Wood County’s average call answering time at 4.06 seconds.

Sammy Scalise earned his award for 2024 Telecommunicator of the Year after months of hard work and dedication to the job. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com