Hawkins County 911 Joins Southwest Virginia Counterparts for Crucial Training
- lcampbell251
- Aug 14, 2024
- 2 min read
On August 13 and 14, 2024, Hawkins County 911 was proud to participate in a two-day educational event alongside our 911 counterparts from Southwest Virginia, made possible through the Virginia PSAP Education Grant. Eleven of our dedicated staff members traveled to Wise County, Virginia, where we were hosted for the Denice Amber Lee Foundation’s "A Victim’s Plea" course.
This course is more than just a training session; it was a powerful, emotional journey through the critical 911 failures that occurred the night Denise Amber Lee was kidnapped, raped, and murdered. The course, led by Denise’s husband Nathan Lee, founder of the Denise Amber Lee Foundation, and 911 professional Matt Grogan, served as a sobering reminder of the vital role that 911 dispatchers play in emergency response.
Our team, along with 911 dispatchers from Southwest Virginia, was exposed to the tragic events of that night, which highlighted the need for ongoing training, leadership, proper staffing, and a commitment to excellence in our field. Through this riveting presentation, we learned not only from the obvious failures of that day but also from the deeper lessons about hiring, training, and supporting our teams in the communications center.
The collaboration with our Southwest Virginia counterparts provided an invaluable networking opportunity. As we all know, calls for service and emergency response do not respect state boundaries, making this shared experience all the more significant. Our staff collectively logged over 88 hours of in-service training during this course, equipping them with new insights and skills that will undoubtedly benefit our community.
We are deeply grateful to our Virginia counterparts for making this training possible through the Virginia PSAP Education Grant. Without this support, such a meaningful learning experience would not have been feasible. We look forward to future opportunities for training and collaboration as we continue our mission to Get the Right People, to the Right Place, at the Right Time.
Thank you to everyone who made this event a success, and we remain committed to applying these lessons to better serve the citizens of Hawkins County.
