Yarmouth Police Recognize Our Dispatch Team during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week 2015 The safety of the public, as well as law enforcement, and first responders, frequently depends on our Dispatchers and the Yarmouth Police Department recognizes these skilled men and women for their dedication and service during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 12 through 18, 2015. Public Safety Telecommunicators, or Dispatchers, are the often the first critical contact people have with emergency services. Yarmouth Police Department Dispatchers handle all of the town of Yarmouth initial 9-1-1 emergency and non-emergency calls. Dispatchers ensure the appropriate assistance is provided, whether it is sending a Police Officer to respond to a call, or contacting fire, natural resources, highway safety, or other emergency services. In addition, they are in constant radio communication with the patrol officers, often assisting them by looking up vehicle identification, license plate and driver license numbers, or by running checks for wanted subjects Dispatchers are required to multi-task with a number of phone lines, computer systems, and radios as well as handle concerns of citizens who come into our lobby. One of their most crucial roles is to maintain communication with our officers and provide information critical for their safety. All Police Dispatchers have earned certification as Public Safety Telecommunicators and have one of the most demanding jobs in Public Safety. Our Dispatchers are the front line of a system designed to mitigate criminal activity, protect property, and save lives and we are thankful of their professionalism and dedication to our community and our Police Officers and fellow First Responders. Yarmouth Police Department Dispatchers: Police Dispatcher Stephen Peterson is our Senior Police Dispatcher and is currently in his 36th year of fulltime service with the Yarmouth Police Department. In addition, Dispatcher Peterson has also served a Yarmouth Police Department Reserve Police Officer for 28 years. During his career Dispatcher Peterson has received numerous Departmental Awards, Citations, and Commendations including Reserve Police Officer of the Year in 1988. Prior to joining the Yarmouth Police Department, Dispatcher Peterson served our Country as a United States Marine and earned the rank of Sergeant—meritoriously—as a member of the 1st Battalion 12th Marine Regiment. Dispatcher Peterson is a graduate of Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School and has an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Cape Cod Community College. Police Dispatcher Maria Curtis is currently in her 13th year of fulltime service as a Yarmouth Police Dispatcher. Prior to serving with the Yarmouth Police Department Dispatcher Curtis served as a Police Dispatcher for 13 years with the Eastham Police Department. Dispatcher Curtis has a wide variety of training and certificates and has earned several Departmental Awards and Commendations. In addition Dispatcher Curtis serves as our Criminal History Systems Board LEAPS/CJIS representative and E911 Telecommunications Board Coordinator. Dispatcher Curtis is a graduate of Nauset Regional High School and the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Training Council Reserve Intermittent Police Academy. Dispatcher Curtis has several college degrees including an Associate of Science Degree in Paralegal from Bay Path College, an Associate in Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Cape Cod Community College, and a Bachelor in Science in Criminal Justice from Western New England College. Police Dispatcher Paul Leidenfrost is in his 5th year of fulltime service as a Yarmouth Police Dispatcher and recently received the 2014 Yarmouth Police Department Dispatcher of the Year Award. Dispatcher Leidenfrost is highly trained with a wide range of professional public safety experience and service. Dispatcher Leidenfrost has previously served for 9 years as a fulltime Police Dispatcher with the New Jersey State Police and for 1 year with the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office. Dispatcher Leidenfrost is a Certified Emergency Medical Technician and the recipient of the prestigious American Ambulance Association Star of Life Award. In addition, Dispatcher Leidenfrost formerly served as an auxiliary Police Officer and Dispatcher with the Green brook Police Department in New Jersey and is a graduate of Midland Park High School. Police Dispatcher Jennifer Leighton is starting her 5th year as a fulltime Yarmouth Police Dispatcher. Dispatcher Leighton is well trained and is a graduate of Chatham High School and has attended Cape Cod Community College and Roger Williams University in Rhode Island. Police Dispatcher Michael Kubiak is in his 5th year as a fulltime Yarmouth Police Dispatcher. Dispatcher Kubiak is highly experienced and has previously served as a part time Police Dispatcher and Reserve Police Officer with the Wellfleet Police Department. Dispatcher Kubiak is a graduate of St. Johns High School and the Massachusetts Municipal Police Officer Reserve Intermittent Police Academy and has earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Westfield State University. Police Dispatcher Katie Brown is in her 4th year of fulltime service with the Yarmouth Police Department. Dispatcher Brown is well trained and experienced and has previous full and part time police dispatch experience with the Harwich and Chatham Police Departments. Dispatcher Brown also serves as a Yarmouth Police Department Reserve Police Officer. Dispatcher Brown is a graduate of Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School and the Massachusetts Municipal Police Officer Reserve Intermittent Police Academy and has earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Psychology from Western New England College. Dispatcher Sean Ryan is in his 8th month of fulltime service with the Yarmouth Police Department. Dispatcher Ryan also serves as a Yarmouth Police Department Reserve Police Officer. Dispatcher Ryan is a graduate of Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School and the Massachusetts Municipal Police Officer Reserve Intermittent Police Academy and has attended Cape Cod Community College and the University of Massachusetts. Dispatcher Kerrie Pentland is our newest Dispatcher and is currently in her third month of service. Prior to joining the Yarmouth Police Department, Dispatcher Pentland served as a Police Dispatcher with the Chatham and Harwich Police Departments. Dispatcher Pentland is a graduate of Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School and has attended Bridgewater State University. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. The Yarmouth Police Department has built a strong presence on Facebook and Twitter to allow us share information with our community. Become a fan today! This media release was prepared and distributed by Yarmouth Police Department Deputy Chief of Police Steven G. Xiarhos 508-775-0445 extension 2150 or sxiarhos@yarmouth.ma.us