State’s Newest Emergency Telecommunicators Graduate from Certification Course

Northeast Radio SD News - Pierre, SD - Seventeen students graduated on Friday from the South Dakota Basic Telecommunicator Certification Course, completing the intensive two-week training program. The graduates represent 14 different law enforcement and communication centers across the state.

South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley praised the graduates for their commitment to public safety. "These graduates have answered the call to serve, committing themselves to one of the most critical roles in public safety," said Attorney General Jackley. "They are the voices of calm during the chaos."

The comprehensive two-week course prepares students for the responsibilities of a 911 dispatcher. Training includes classroom instruction and practical exercises on topics such as public safety telecommunications, effectively responding to caller inquiries, managing both emergency and non-emergency calls for service, and prioritizing multiple incidents that occur simultaneously.

The course is instructed by staff from the state Division of Criminal Investigation’s Office of Law Enforcement Training, which operates under the Attorney General’s Office. Instructors also include experienced 911 telecommunicators from across South Dakota, as well as various public safety stakeholders.

The graduation ceremony for the 79th session of the course was held at 3:30 p.m. in the George S. Mickelson Criminal Justice Center in Pierre. Chief Deputy Attorney General Brent Kempema delivered the keynote address.

The graduates and their respective law enforcement or communication centers are:

• Dominique Bettelyoun, Rosebud Police Department

• Jospeh Blankartz, Metro Communications

• Robert Coltharp, Spink County Sheriff’s Office

• Brianne Davis, Spearfish Police Department

• Jaydin Emery, Winner Police Department

• Brooks Ferguson, Meade County Sheriff’s Office

• Chance Garcia, Lower Brule Law Enforcement Sioux Tribe

• Meaghan Gordon, Metro Communications

• Vanessa Hautekeete, Pennington County Emergency Services Communication Center

• Junia Hofer, Brown County Communications

• Lily Hohn, Edmunds County Sheriff’s Office

• Madison Janis, Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety

• Cierra Keen, Charles Mix County 911 Sheriff’s Office

• Kasey Moen, Metro Communications

• Jennifer Snider, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office

• Sapphire Tiger, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

• Heather Wilkinson, Brown County Communications