The Colony Council proclaims National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, honors dispatch staff

The Colony City Council on April 2026 read a proclamation declaring a week in April 2026 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and recognized the city’s public safety dispatch team for awards and professional achievements.

Deputy City Manager Brent Showerberg presented the proclamation and asked the mayor to join for a photo. He noted the dispatch center’s role as the public’s first contact in emergencies and praised staff for their work. “These people are doing that job,” Showerberg said, adding that dispatchers often keep callers calm and guide responders to scenes.

Robin, a public safety dispatch supervisor, told the council that Tony Nyer, the dispatch director, received the National Emergency Number Association’s Operations Professional of the Year award and that two dispatchers — Tasha Whitley and Peyton Kanathor — were awarded the Denco Area 911 District’s Dr. Gough scholarship to attend the 2026 navigator conference. “The Colony Public Safety dispatch is incredibly proud and honored to announce that we have not one, but two specialists who have been chosen to receive this award,” Robin said.

Cassie, another dispatch supervisor, described two staffers who received the department’s “silent hero” and lifesaver recognitions for leadership and on-the-job performance. Showerberg said the awards reflect the department’s broader capability and encouraged residents to honor dispatch personnel during the proclaimed week.

The council’s recognition follows the city’s effort to highlight emergency communications as a vital public-safety function; no formal policy change or budget action was proposed at the meeting.

The council moved on to other agenda items after the presentation and photo opportunity.