(McKEAN COUNTY: April 17, 2025):  This week marks National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week honoring dispatchers.  Dispatchers are the lifeline of first responders.  They are tasked with managing each call, identifying the proper response both in manpower and jurisdiction, and monitoring what additional response is needed. They are the voice of reassurance to victims and the silent guardians of law enforcement – making sure they return after each call.

In February, a call of the most serious nature came in to the McKean County 911 center and the State Police-Lewis Run barracks.  On the other end of those calls were 911 operators Mandy Tyger and Ethan Sprankle and State Police dispatcher Steve Green.  These three ensured a flood of law enforcement and emergency medical personnel from multiple departments responded to the critical scene.  They managed not only the response to the scene but, realizing that the majority of first responders were responding to the same scene in one area of the county, they simultaneously ensured that additional manpower was brought in to the county from outside counties to ensure proper coverage for our county. 

My words here are not able to truly reflect the expertise that was required and the finesse in which they managed the incident.  The dispatchers, working hand in hand with the other first responders, ensured that the scene was secured quickly and the suspect apprehended.   And, at the same time, ensured coverage for the rest of the county.   

This was one night when these three individuals were manning the shift.  Each shift of every day sees despatchers managing the imaginary net across McKean County to ensure that residents and visitors of every area of the county receive the response their needs require. 

On behalf of the District Attorneys’ Office and McKean County Law Enforcement, I thank you, dispatchers at the McKean County 911 Center and Pennsylvania State Police-Lewis Run barracks. Thank you for your dedication, expertise, and service.  Thank you. - District Attorney Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer.