Dispatcher honored for service during flood

By Brian McCauley, bmccauley@miconews.com

Miami County Sheriff’s dispatcher Brandon Ream recently was named state telecommunicator of the year thanks in large part to his efforts during the flooding that devastated Osawatomie last July. (Photo by Brian McCauley / bmccauley@miconews.com)

A Miami County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher has been honored for his service to the county, including his work during the flooding that devastated Osawatomie last July.

Brandon Ream was named telecommunicator of the year for the state of Kansas at an APCO International banquet April 21 in Mayetta, Kan., north of Topeka.

Ream, who has been with the sheriff’s office about three years, worked numerous hours of overtime last July when communication between the agencies responding to the flood was routed through the county’s mobile command center.

He remembers working from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the sheriff’s office on July 1, going home to sleep for three hours, and then heading to the mobile command center to work from 6:30 p.m. that night to 8:30 a.m. the next morning.

His duties included logging all the radio traffic between the specialized units that were assisting in the flood recovery efforts.

Dispatch supervisor Debbie Henson, who nominated Ream for the award, said Ream always goes above and beyond for the department.

“Brandon is a prime example of a team player,” Henson wrote on the application. “Even though the entire dispatch center (in the mobile command center) is different from the one at the sheriff’s office, Brandon and the others were willing to go there and help out as much as possible.”

The flood was just one of many high-pressure situations Ream has faced as a dispatcher. He said the 911 call he’ll never forget is the one he received from a Louisburg child in October 2005 stating that her mother stabbed her father.

Glenn Rice later was found dead in the front yard of 1005 S. Rogers Road. Melanie Rogers was not charged, as the action was ruled self defense.

Ream said he also doesn’t forget the unusual calls, such as the ones that originate from the Osawatomie State Hospital.

“I’ve talked to the president, Madonna and God,” he said with a laugh.

Despite the intensity of the job, Ream said he actually looks forward to being put in pressure situations.

“That makes it fun,” Ream said. “I like to be busy.”