Stephanie Atlee has been a call receiver for KCSO for the past 8 1/2 years.

“This was a job I never contemplated or expected to do. I had gone to school in my late 20’s and majored in biochemistry, philosophy, and psychology. My aim was to go to medical school, but life has a tendency to show you other paths you can take,” she explains. “As time went by, I discovered a job perfect for me.”

Stephanie found the training process fascinating, and really enjoyed the classroom and hands-on training. She notes, “It was not easy, but something I really took to. Knowing I would be on the front lines in helping people in their time of need was a rewarding prospect.”

She enjoys the demands for multi-tasking and quick thinking, and can easily recall the satisfying moments when her abilities made the difference. “I recall helping a man who wanted to harm himself, and being able to talk him out of it and get him the help he needed. I’ve talked to people injured in accidents or lost on hiking trails,” she says. “there are so many stories and each one is very important and memorable in that someone was helped to the best of my ability.”

Kathryn Barnes was working for a bank in Seattle when she saw an advertisement for communications specialists in the paper. She was looking for a new career, with work she would find exciting and meaningful. Kathryn has now been with KCSO for 15 years and says every call is a unique, new challenge, as you never know what to expect.

“I was drawn to this job because it was something I could do to make a difference. Plus,” she adds with a laugh, “it also required two things I’m good at: typing and talking!” Seriously, Kathryn genuinely likes talking to people and enjoys making sure they receive the same level of service she would like if she were in their position.

Kathryn recalls one incident in which a victim could not tell her what was happening because the suspects were in the same room. Kathryn used her skills to ask questions that the victim could answer without letting on that she was talking to a 911 operator. The information she gathered helped deputies respond quickly and may have saved the victim’s life.

Kathryn finds satisfaction in knowing she has helped people through the worst moments of their life, when they were paralyzed by fear or sorrow. “Sometimes the caller just needs a kind word or someone to think for them, or just be there on the line while they compose themselves.”

April Gallagher is another 9-1-1 operator who came to the Sheriff’s office without a background in law enforcement. She had worked in the restaurant business for 12 years, and has been a part-time real estate agent for the past two years. She possesses a degree in degree in cellular and molecular biology.

April’s greatest satisfaction is helping people. “When people call in it’s usually not for a good reason, and they are most likely having a bad day,” she explains.

This job has taught her to realize that she should always be aware of her surroundings, and what street you are on. April notes that many callers do not know their location, and that “you never know when it will help save you, or someone else’s life.”

Anneka Gassett was looking for jobs in the field of criminal justice after she graduated from Washington State University. She was looking for a job where she could make a difference and be involved in criminal justice without actually being on the street. She has been a communications specialist for almost a year.

“To me, this was a job that described exactly what I wanted to contribute to society,” she says. “I was given the training I needed to become the necessary link between people and police, fire, and medical units.”

Anneka is the first person many people hear when they call 911. It is her job to appraise the situation and gather as much information as possible, which can then be passed on to officers.

“I have always been interested in having a career that dealt with helping the public. I feel like I am a naturally compassionate person, which is a large piece to what it takes to be a communications specialist. You really have to want to handle the challenge of a problem that belongs to someone else, and I want to.”

Tracy Nill joined KCSO out of mere curiosity, but has stayed for over a decade because of the camaraderie she feels with both her fellow dispatchers and the officers in the field. She enjoys the challenge of multitasking the various radio channels, the officers under her care, and often a phone call. A self-described “adrenaline junkie,” rarely a day goes by she doesn’t feel like she earned her pay.

“I love coming to work every night not knowing what my shift will have in store for me,” says Tracy. “The challenge of the unknown is one of the things that keeps me so interested. When a K9 track ends with the wanted subject in custody, I can shed a sigh of relief and smile right along with everyone else involved.

Knowing she makes a difference every day is what keeps Tracy coming back year after year. “I can honestly say that the fulfillment I experience every day performing this job and the camaraderie of the group make this job exciting.”