911 operators, other police staff honored in Chicago: 'They're angels'
CHICAGO - Some of the call takers and dispatchers who are the voice of calm on a police officer's radio — or when you call 911 — were honored Monday at the Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
This gave Officer Carlos Yanez Junior a chance to see the faces that go with all the voices that helped him on his worst day.
A team of dispatchers and call takers helped out on August 7 when Yanez was shot and wounded. His partner Ella French was killed.
"They’re angels on our shoulders, working during some of the hardest times, they keep us cool and collected," said Carlos Yanez Jr.
"Everyone says I was the voice of calm. I don't think so. I wasn't calm at all," said Keith Thornton, Police Communications Operator 2.
Thornton was the primary dispatcher that day. He helped rush police to the downed officers, set up a perimeter to catch the suspects, and guide officers through life saving measures.
"We're just human beings and we're going to have our emotions kick in, but I knew I had to try to be that voice of calm. So the officers out there who are going through that hell could calm it down and try to do the best that they could, which they did." added Thornton.
Carlos Yanez Jr. said of the OEMC team, "they saved my life and did everything they could for Ella."
Several dispatchers and call takers were honored at OEMC Monday morning, giving a hint of just how much team work it takes to answer more than four-million emergency calls each year.
"They know that if they make a mistake, someone’s life will be lost. And in this case, someone’s life was saved and thank you," said Carlos Yanez Sr., referring to his son who survived that devastating day.
Both Officer Yanez’s family and Officer French’s mom took this chance to voice their thanks to the people who are the voice of calm.
Also honored were several colleagues who helped revive an OEMC employee who had a heart attack at work.