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Berrien County recognizes 2024 telecommunicators of the year
Summary
The Berrien County Board of Commissioners and sheriff's office honored six nominees and named Christina Birx the 2024 telecommunicator of the year for her leadership in coordinating multi-agency responses and supervising storm and mass‑casualty incidents.
The Berrien County Board of Commissioners paused its regular business to honor nominees for the county’s telecommunicator awards and named Christina Birx the 2024 telecommunicator of the year.
The undersheriff, speaking as chair of the county’s 9-1-1 advisory board, called dispatch a “critical task” and listed qualities that distinguish strong telecommunicators: active listening, the ability to multitask and clear communication under pressure. He said dispatchers “coordinate resources throughout the county, oftentimes when lives are on the line.”
The county and sheriff’s office recognized six nominees for the award and described specific incidents and service records that informed the selection. Nominees and highlights included:
- Keith Layman (Niles dispatch): Night‑shift dispatcher who completed training with high scores; on Nov. 29 he managed multiple calls for a fully engulfed structure fire and quickly dispatched police, fire, medical and utility resources.
- Sarah Blurton: Completed 25 years with the dispatch center and retired Dec. 27, 2024; credited with improving the training program, mentoring trainees and earning respect from first responders.
- Audrey McCreary: Remained on the line more than 90 minutes with a caller from Oklahoma on June 4, 2024, and maintained rapport while documenting critical information for first responders; serves as a training officer and participates in community outreach.
- Cheyenne Vaughn: Two-and-a-half years with the dispatch center; coordinated fire and EMS resources for a May 8, 2024 structure fire in Niles Township where a firefighter fell through a floor, and managed incoming information during an Oct. 20, 2024 critical incident at Lakeshore High School.
- Christina (nominee): Initiated a license-plate search that led to the recovery of a stolen vehicle in just over two hours; recognized for performance during a commercial structure fire in Benton Harbor on Sept. 15, 2024; serves as a union representative and officer in charge.
- Christina Birx (winner): Cited for supervising the county’s storm response Aug. 27, 2024; coordinating responses to multiple serious injury accidents on Oct. 13, 2024; and managing mutual‑aid channels during a Nov. 2, 2024 double shooting in Eau Claire. Supervisors praised her incident coordination, documentation and efforts to standardize procedures and support new telecommunicators.
Caitlin Samsel, the county director referenced by commissioners, and Deputy Director Jennifer Flick were thanked for recruitment work and technology adoption that county leaders said has supported the dispatch center. The board and presenters encouraged the public to recognize telecommunicators’ role as the link between the community and first responders.
The presentation closed with remarks from the undersheriff who said the county is “very fortunate to have talented people in these positions,” and brief photo opportunities for nominees and their families.
The ceremony was presented to the Berrien County Board of Commissioners; nominees and winners were drawn from both the Niles dispatch center and Berrien County dispatch operations.
