Watertown’s Brooklyn Serreyn Among Graduates of State Telecommunicator Course

Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has announced the graduation of 23 students from the state’s Basic Telecommunicator Certification Course, including Watertown’s own Brooklyn Serreyn.

Serreyn, representing the Watertown Police Department, was among the graduates recognized during a ceremony held Friday afternoon at the George S. Mickelson Criminal Justice Center in Pierre. The ceremony marked the conclusion of the 80th Session of the intensive two-week certification program.

Training the “First Voice” of Public Safety

The course is designed to prepare dispatchers for the high-pressure environment of emergency communications. Attorney General Jackley emphasized the vital role these individuals play as the initial link in the first-response chain.

“We can never take telecommunicators for granted,” said Attorney General Jackley. “They are the first voice people hear when they call for assistance.”

Throughout the program, Serreyn and her fellow students underwent rigorous training, including:

·        Emergency Response: Mastering how to handle both emergency and non-emergency calls for service.

·        Crisis Management: Learning how to respond to callers in distress and gather vital information quickly.

·        Incident Prioritization: Developing the ability to manage multiple high-stakes incidents occurring simultaneously.

Professional Expertise

The 80th Session was taught by experts from the State Division of Criminal Investigation’s (DCI) Office of Law Enforcement Training, experienced 911 telecommunicators, and public safety stakeholders. Chief Deputy Attorney General Brent Kempema served as the keynote speaker, honoring the graduates representing 15 law enforcement and communications centers statewide.

With this certification, Serreyn returns to the Watertown Police Department equipped with the specialized skills necessary to serve as a critical lifeline for the community.

80th Basic Telecommunicator Certification Graduates

The following individuals completed the 80th Session of the Basic Telecommunicator Certification Course:

Name	Agency
Brooklyn Serreyn	Watertown Police Department
Mersadez Asheim	Pennington County Emergency Services Communications Center
Emelia Basso	Pennington County Emergency Services Communications Center
Kiera Bennett	Marshall County Sheriff’s Office
Amy Blankartz	Mobridge Police Department
Madison Cheever	Metro Communications
Jacob Clark	Spink County Sheriff’s Office
Ian Cole	Brown County Sheriff’s Office
Adrianna Duman	Pennington County Emergency Services Communications Center
Donovan Knecht	Mobridge Police Department
Shelly Kutilek-Olson	Mitchell Police Department
Lacy Laughard	Winner Police Department
Amy Leal	Pennington County Emergency Services Communications Center
Delaynie Meyer	University of South Dakota
Cassandra Nelson	Pennington County Emergency Services Communications Center
Sumar Petersen	Central South Dakota Communications
Kathryn Ramig	South Dakota State University Police
Kiara Schmeichel	Mobridge Police Department
Melissa Smith	Pennington County Emergency Services Communications Center
Nathan VonHaden	Union County Sheriff’s Office
Courtney Walker	Butte County Sheriff’s Office
Alexandria Walter	Yankton Police Department
Gavin Whitledge	Mitchell Police Department