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As a dispatcher, Steele handles both emergency and nonemergency calls. Her team coordinates response efforts for multiple county services, including law enforcement, fire, medical, rescue, and animal control. \u201cWe dispatch for all the different resources in the county,\u201d she said, \u201cincluding calling out the highway departments and utility companies when needed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The dispatch center operates continuously, requiring round-the-clock coverage. \u201cYou work long hours sometimes,\u201d Steele said. \u201cYou work weekends, holidays, all hours of the day and night \u2014 dispatch never closes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to managing calls and radio communications, Steele and her colleagues perform a wide range of administrative and data-management tasks that are essential to public safety operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe maintain an agreement with Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) which allows us to access all records pertaining to tags, driver\u2019s licenses and stolen property, wanted and missing persons, and criminal records,\u201d she explained. \u201cWe take care of querying and entering into the national system all stolen property, wanted and missing persons, orders of protection, and sex offenders for all agencies in our county. We maintain records for all, and we are audited on these records.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the years, Steele has obtained and maintained multiple professional certifications required for her position. \u201cWe are required to be certified by TBI to access the database, CPR certification, Emergency Medical Dispatch, Basic Telecommunicator Certification, and we have to maintain those certifications by continuing education credits,\u201d she said. Steele also serves as the terminal agency coordinator (TAC) for her department, a position that involves direct communication with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. \u201cMyself and my alternate TAC are required to have additional training with TBI,\u201d she noted. In this role, Steele ensures the department remains in compliance with TBI policies and manages the secure use of criminal justice databases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The position requires a high level of accuracy, discretion, and ongoing education. Steele\u2019s years of experience have made her an integral part of maintaining operational integrity and procedural consistency across all public safety divisions in her county.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Steele, the most rewarding moments are those in which her work directly contributes to saving lives. \u201cWhen you give CPR instructions and the person lives, or you help deliver a baby, or you get help to the scene of a crime and the police get the perpetrator in custody,\u201d she said. \u201cBut also knowing that I was a comfort to someone during potentially one of the worst days of their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The demands of the job, however, can be intense. \u201cThe hardest part of the job is listening to someone take their last breath,\u201d Steele said. \u201cListening to someone beg you for help and you are trying to get them help as soon as possible \u2014 it always feels like it takes forever for help to arrive in an emergency.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Steele added that maintaining composure is critical. \u201cYou are required to use critical thinking on the daily, and your decision could be life or death,\u201d she explained. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to deal with when someone is screaming at you to get here now and refusing to answer questions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The long hours and emotional intensity can take a toll. \u201cIt is mentally exhausting,\u201d Steele admitted. \u201cIt is hard to find a good balance between work and family time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n After nearly three decades in emergency communications, Steele said the profession has shaped her perspective. \u201cThere are many calls that I remember and that have impacted me in different ways,\u201d she reflected. \u201cI believe that the different types of calls I have taken have helped me to be more empathetic and understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She believes empathy is a defining quality for anyone in dispatch. \u201cThis job requires a lot of patience, multitasking, typing skills, ability to remain calm during high stress situations, and a desire to help,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Steele also wishes more members of the public understood the scope of what dispatchers do. \u201cI wish the public understood that we are not just call takers,\u201d she emphasized. \u201cThere is so much more to our job as 911 dispatchers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Steele\u2019s longevity in the field reflects both her dedication and her adaptability. Over the years, she has witnessed major advancements in technology, training, and interagency communication. Through every change, her focus has remained on professionalism and service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For her, the essence of dispatching lies in its central role in public safety. Every emergency begins with a call, and every response depends on clear communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After 28 years, Steele continues to represent the reliability and composure that define her profession. Her work may take place behind the scenes, but its impact reaches into every part of the community she serves. GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" FOR 28 years, Samantha Steele has been a central figure in her county\u2019s emergency communications system. As the assistant 911 director, 911 dispatcher, and terminal agency coordinator, she has managed critical calls, coordinated multi-agency responses, and maintained compliance with state and federal standards. Her experience reflects the profession\u2019s evolution and the steady dedication required to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":194,"featured_media":24575,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24573","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/franklin-county\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/12\/6-1024x683.jpg\")
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