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Broward County Communications Training Officer Selected as the FSA 2018 Dispatcher of the Year

FSA 2018 Dispatcher of the Year

The Florida Sheriffs Association is pleased to announce that Communications Training Officer Dominique Mathis of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office has been selected as the 2018 Dispatcher of the Year. Each year, the award is presented at the FSA Winter Conference to an officer who has demonstrated exceptional service in the line of duty. The award is sponsored by Harris Corporation.

Officer Mathis has exemplified these qualities in the workplace since enrolling and excelling in the Communications Training Academy. She was hired by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office in August of 2004. In 2008, Mathis was promoted to Senior Telecommunicator. Recently, she has been appointed as the division’s Communications Training Officer Coordinator where she oversees the Communication Training Officers program.

During her time with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, Mathis has become a certified Communications Training Officer and has received multiple awards and certifications including the prestigious title of “SWAT Dispatcher,” Employee of the Month for July 2010, and many awards of commendation.

Officer Mathis was awarded a Letter of Commendation for her service in 2014 when she received a call about a patient who wasn’t breathing. She talked the caller through how to perform CPR in accordance with the protocol governed by the National Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch.

She is also able to respond to significant incidents such as the influx of calls that happened on January 6, 2017, when there was a mass shooting at the Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport. Mathis was assigned to a call from a citizen hiding in a bathroom stall during the incident. She administered calming techniques to comfort the caller while also reminding the woman to let her loved ones know that she was safe.

After she managed the call, she calmly focused on the other calls flooding the Public Safety Answering Points from other distraught people at the airport.

“Ms. Mathis’ performance under these circumstances was nothing less than exemplary,” said Communications Director, Lisa Zarazinski. “Ms. Mathis was able to form bonds with the callers, while focusing on the safety of the caller and first responders.”

In 2016, Officer Mathis set an example for one of her trainees when she received a call from a teen threatening suicide. She stayed on the line for 35 minutes keeping the young man calm while also discretely interrogating him with pertinent questions until law enforcement officials arrived.

Mathis’ training supervisor, Maeghan Foley wrote, “Not only did CTO Mathis do a great job talking to the caller, she gave her trainee a great example of how to go the extra step on a call of this nature.”

The Florida Sheriffs Association Dispatcher of the Year Award is proudly sponsored by Harris Corporation. During the annual winter conference banquet, Mathis was given a standing ovation from the 500-plus law enforcement attendees and their supporters.

Harris Corporation is one of the state’s largest technology innovators, with 6,500 employees operating in 15 Florida locations. The company provides solutions to public safety customers nationwide, including the Florida Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System, P25 and Land Mobile Radio systems for more than 20 Florida counties, the MyFloridaNet-2 network, the Miami-Dade County public safety communications system, and Florida Power and Light’s critical communications network. 

Watch Officer Mathis’ spotlight video here: [url=https://youtu.be/COUgLRbkC1k]https://youtu.be/COUgLRbkC1k[/url]

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About Florida Sheriffs Association:
The Florida Sheriffs Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation made up of Florida’s Sheriffs, approximately 3,500 business leaders and 70,000 citizens throughout the state. Founded in 1893, FSA has steadfastly served the citizens of Florida by supporting the needs of the state's law-enforcement community. Through the Florida Sheriffs Association, Sheriffs are given a forum to address lawmakers to push for positive changes in Florida’s public safety arena. FSA also provides Sheriffs' Offices much-needed programs such as affordable training, special task forces and legislative and legal services.  Dedicated to the prevention of juvenile delinquency and the development of lawful, productive citizens, FSA both established and continues to fund the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches with facilities throughout the state to help restore hope, fulfill dreams, and prepare boys and girls for the future. The Florida Sheriffs Association has grown to be one of the largest and most successful state law enforcement associations in the nation.

About Harris:
Harris Corporation is a leading technology innovator, solving our customers’ toughest mission-critical challenges by providing solutions that connect, inform and protect. Learn more at harris.com.