Jumpline magazine January 2024 - Flipbook - Page 44
44
Dispatch
Veronica “Ronnie” Solomon
MDFR Dispatcher
We are more
than dispatchers
in some of us is beyond measure and the execuBeing a dispatcher is only
tion more than impressive. This year, evening
one facet of who we are
shift took home the prize for their interpretation
as women and men and
of “the missing dispatchers.” Those who were
how we live our lives. At
kidnapped by the character Pennywise from the
times, we are called upon
movie “IT”. Pennywise is known for his extreme
to assist with community
white makeup and thin, red u-shaped line crossevents and local disasters. As a certi昀椀ed meming both eyes, stopping mid-forehead. To me,
ber of the Florida Telecommunicator Emergency
that line is in the shape of a ram’s horn. He was
Response Team (TERT), we pride ourselves on
draped in a yellow 昀椀re昀椀ghter jacket lying lifeless
being present. We have responded in the role of
on the 昀氀oor outside of our dispatch of昀椀ce. The
telecommunicators across Florida. We come to
competitive back and forth banter between shifts
relieve those that have had to deal with the afcoupled with a sheepish eye roll left each of us
tereffects of a natural disaster in their lives. This
wondering what the other was going to come up
is the way of the ancients. If you’re affected,
with. I liked it! Not everyone participated but
we will show up. Hurricane Ian destroyed Lee
for those who couldn’t contribute creatively they
County. Four of our 昀椀nest went to assist in their
contributed monetarily. It can be expensive when
communications center to relieve some of the
you’re great. It’s creating a new culture for us as we kick off the
pressure. Each group of two, you know… the buddy system,
holiday season, our version of pumpkin spice. No Halloween
stayed a week and endured less than comfortable conditions.
spooky season is complete without our costume dress up on
Mary Dunne and Brittany Naso went 昀椀rst and then Stephanie
October 31st.
Fernandez and Clarissa Bond took over for them a week later.
Feelings of ful昀椀lment beam from us when
We also represented the dispatch of昀椀ce at
we are called upon in a way that supports
the Holy Family Catholic School in North Mithose in need. There is something that is a
ami for their annual career day. This was
must-do for a professional 昀椀re-rescue disour 昀椀rst invitation. My eldest niece is a
patcher. That is giving back. Here in the
teacher there and I think that she may have
FAO we’ve done it since I began my career
had something to do with the invitation. DisOur
time
in
service
to
more than 25 years ago with Miami-Dade
patcher Laura Graves and I stood before a
Fire Rescue. We are the type of division in
dispatch is limited,
classroom of third through eighth graders
this organization that has a hand of grace.
educating them on who we are, what we do
but our impact goes
and how we do it. That was a rewarding day
In contrast, we also know how to let our
beyond the confines of
for the two of us. Chief Faye Davis, who is
hair down and have fun! This Halloween,
charge of the Public Education Division,
we had a window decorating competition.
time, headquarters, and in
had her staff member Nuria Serrano put toWe have some dispatchers with the gift
gether 140 white plastic bags with the 昀椀re
of creativity. That would not be me. The
dispatching.
department’s symbol emblazoned on the
ideas that are mustered up are astounding.
front. Nuria stuffed them with pens, note
Where do they get it from? The imagination
January 2024 | JUMPLINE Magazine