CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Each year, the second full week of April is dedicated to the men and women who serve as Public Safety Telecommunicators. On Saturday, April 6, 2019, the Organization of Public Safety Telecommunicators (OPST) hosted the 22nd annual Dispatcher Awards Banquet to recognize and honor police and fire 9-1-1 dispatchers, call takers and supervisors for their exemplary performance and contributions to the community.

OPST is comprised of call takers, dispatchers, supervisors, and managers from 9-1-1 Public Safety agencies in Placer, El Dorado, Nevada, Sacramento, and Yolo Counties, including state agencies.

Each year many Citrus Heights Police Department (CHPD) dispatchers are nominated for the annual Dispatcher of the Year Award, and this year Dispatcher Scott Kermgard was selected as the CHPD awards recipient.

Scott joined the CHPD Communications team shortly after the inception of CHPD in 2006. During his tenure, Scott has served in a variety of training and leadership roles and is looked upon as a veteran member and mentor of this team.

On December 27, 2018, Scott received a frantic 9-1-1 call from a woman who had just been struck by a drunk driver while riding her skateboard. Scott remained on the line with the victim for over 20 minutes while he, his partners, and responding officers attempted to identify the caller’s location. During that time, Scott demonstrated incredible calm, compassion, and encouragement, and the victim was successfully located and transported to the hospital with critical injuries.

For many the story ends here; but not for Scott. He and his partners would later visit the victim in the hospital to show their care, concern and compassion towards those we serve.

The above example is just one of many reasons Scott is deserving of this award. In department-wide nominations, he was recognized for his consistency, reliability, expertise, professionalism, and compassion. Scott is a consummate professional and has earned this award for his ongoing compassion in representing the dispatch profession.

Congratulations, Scott! We are so lucky and honored to have you on our team.