Lycoming County honors 911 telecommunicator Samantha Gardner as officials say recruiting pipeline is improving

County commissioners on Tuesday recognized Telecommunicator 2 Samantha Gardner for her handling of a high‑risk, life‑threatening call in Montoursville Borough that officials said provided intelligence used by on‑scene commanders. The recognition followed a presentation by the Department of Public Safety, which asked the board to join in honoring Gardner and the telecommunicators who staff the county’s 911 center.

The DPS representative said Gardner maintained composure under pressure while she engaged with a person inside a residence and relayed observations in real time to commanders and personnel on scene. "Her handling of the call was later recognized in legal proceedings as an example of exemplary professionalism under pressure," the presenter said.

In a related update on staffing, the department reported a recent recruiting uptick: six resumes from a career fair, eight from other outreach, three from the prior day, two current county employees seeking part‑time console work and one former employee willing to return — a total the presenter described as 20 candidates in two weeks. Officials said that while the pipeline is improving, onboarding takes months and the county is actively seeking a dedicated training coordinator.

Staff clarified that the APCO Telecommunicator 1 certification (a statewide, roughly 40‑hour foundational class) is a baseline requirement and that much of the practical training is completed through dispatcher shadowing over several months. County staff asked commissioners to allow continued hiring while the search for a permanent training coordinator continues, calling any interim arrangement a temporary "bridge" and not a long‑term change to performance standards.

Samantha Gardner, invited to the podium, thanked colleagues and emphasized it was "definitely a team effort" that included multiple staff both at the center and on scene. Commissioners applauded the staff and encouraged continued recruitment efforts.

The board voted on routine items later in the meeting but did not take separate formal action on the recognition or the recruiting briefing beyond the public acknowledgement. The county said it would continue outreach and work with other departments (HR, payroll, information services) to expedite onboarding where possible.