'Dispatcher of the Year' Awards Conferred by Philadelphia Police and Fire Depts.
By Mike DeNardo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia's police and fire departments today honored four civilians as their "Dispatchers of the Year."
They're the first voices you hear when you dial 911.
The police department singled out three dispatchers for extraordinary service.
"When they call me, they're already at the edge, so my job is to bring them back and let them know that somebody's coming," said Celestine Stanford, a 28-year veteran (top photo).
"It's a very good feeling because sometimes you don't get too many thank-yous," noted fellow police dispatcher Angela Mayes (below), who has 20 years on the job, "so it's nice to be recognized."
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Keesha McGriff, an 11-year veteran, was also recognized.
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In a separate ceremony today at fire headquarters, dispatcher Nashia Roper (below) was honored.
"It just helps motivate me to do better," she said of the award, "because I know that what I've been doing is really being looked into and appreciated."
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City officials say Philadelphia dispatchers fielded more than a half-million calls to 911 last year.