Matthew Williams: A Decade of Excellence in Emergency Dispatch

Matthew has dedicated over a decade of his career to the critical role of emergency dispatch, currently serving as a fire dispatcher at Skagit 911, also known as Cascade Dispatch. With eleven years of experience, Matthew has evolved from a 911 call taker trained by our host, Jennifer Darling, to a seasoned fire dispatcher. His commitment to excellence and continuous improvement in emergency response communication has significantly contributed to the safety and well-being of Skagit County residents.

In our conversation, we uncover the intricate world of emergency dispatch, the evolution of technology in the field, and the personal challenges and triumphs faced by dispatchers.

Specifically, we discuss:

The transition from traditional dispatch methods to the ProQA system and its impact on emergency response accuracy.

The challenges of adapting to new technologies and methodologies in dispatch.

The importance of building strong relationships between dispatchers and field responders for effective emergency management.

Strategies for managing the emotional toll of handling life-or-death situations over the phone.

The critical role of continuous training and the unique approach to recruitment and retention in the dispatch profession.

Matthew's initiative in creating a dispatch newsletter to foster community and share knowledge among emergency response teams.

Danny Rabelos' conversation with Jennifer Darling provides insight into how personal experiences can shape one's career path in law enforcement.

During "A Duty to Act", Rabelos recounts growing up in challenging circumstances within a poor community where encounters with police were often negative due to abuse at home and racial injustices faced by friends. These experiences fueled his determination to change perceptions of policing by joining the force himself.

Rabelos describes key moments that propelled him toward policing—specifically recalling when he was unfairly detained alongside a friend who had been racially targeted; this incident left a lasting impression leading him towards seeking justice through fair treatment within law enforcement.

His career trajectory took him from high school football fields under mentorship guidance through college education at WSU earning degrees in psychology and sociology before embarking on testing for various departments ultimately landing at Everett PD.

With retirement looming due to an injury sustained while on duty, Rabelos looks forward to exploring photography further while reflecting fondly upon nearly three decades spent serving the Everett community.

The interview also touches upon effective recruitment strategies highlighting how Rabelos championed Everett PD’s embrace of Instagram against initial resistance favoring traditional platforms like Facebook; this move significantly enhanced engagement particularly among younger demographics crucial for future recruitment efforts.

In addition, Rabelos sheds light on fostering interdepartmental camaraderie sharing anecdotes about friendly competitions between police officers firefighters raising funds for charitable causes showcasing solidarity beyond professional duties.

An intriguing aspect discussed is Rabelos’ extensive tattoo artwork covering both arms featuring superheroes villains each symbolizing aspects of good evil respectively reflecting personal growth overcoming adversity throughout life’s journey; these tattoos played part influencing changes regarding visible tattoo policies within Everett PD enhancing relatability amongst officers communities alike.

Name: Danny Robellos

Department: Everett Police Department

Career Span: 25 years (retiring soon)

Educational Background: Degrees in Psychology Sociology from Washington State University (WSU)

Tattoos: Both arms covered representing superheroes villains signifying life struggles triumph

Mark Tenia, the public information officer for the Richmond Ambulance Authority, discusses the importance of establishing credibility and proactive communication. He emphasizes the value of having a repository of information to refer to when addressing specific topics or advocating for the agency. Mark also highlights the significance of partnerships and collaboration with other agencies and organizations to expand their audience and reach. 

Takeaways

• EMS agencies need to advocate for themselves and tell their own stories through PR efforts.
• Building relationships with the media is crucial for effective PR.
• Tailoring messages for different platforms and tracking their success is important.
• Getting buy-in from EMS crews is essential for successful PR initiatives. Establishing credibility and proactive communication are essential for public information officers in EMS agencies.
• Partnerships and collaboration with other agencies and organizations can help expand the audience and reach of EMS agencies.
• Managing daily tasks and responsibilities in PR requires flexibility and adaptability, as well as long-term planning.
• Crisis communication and preparedness are crucial in maintaining public trust and credibility.
• Solo PR efforts can be challenging, but team collaboration and buy-in from staff members are key to success.
• Gathering and reposting content from various sources can provide valuable material for social media and other communication channels.
• Future plans for the Richmond Ambulance Authority include highlighting cardiac arrest survivors and speaking at conferences to promote effective communication in EMS.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

04:46 Justifying the Role of PR in EMS

07:49 Current PR Initiatives

09:40 Creating a PR Calendar

12:30 Getting Buy-In from EMS Crews

14:51 Recruitment and Retention Challenges

16:28 Generational Differences in PR Participation

18:45 Managing Media Requests

20:46 The Importance of Commenting

23:10 Preparing for Negative News

25:37 Building Relationships with the Media

27:55 The Role of a Public Information Officer

29:57 Tailoring Messages for Different Platforms

35:25 Identifying the End Goal of PR

37:53 Keeping Up with Social Media Trends

40:06 Creating Internal Educational Content

42:52 Using LinkedIn for Recruitment

45:26 Sharing Weekly Statistics

48:24 Highlighting Wall Times at Hospitals

50:20 Establishing Credibility and Proactive Communication

52:11 Partnerships and Collaboration

54:25 Managing Daily Tasks and Responsibilities

57:57 Crisis Communication and Preparedness

01:02:27 Solo PR Efforts and Team Collaboration

01:06:09 Gathering and Reposting Content

01:08:02 Future Plans and Exciting Projects

If you’d like to submit a question or an AMA episode or would like to work with us to improve your public service team, go to: www.teamprotego.com

If you’d like to submit a question or an AMA episode or would like to work with us to improve your public service team, go to: www.teamprotego.com

If you’d like to submit a question, be on the show, or would like to work with us to improve your public service team, go to: www.teamprotego.com

If you’d like to submit a question or an AMA episode or would like to work with us to improve your public service team, go to: www.teamprotego.com

If you’d like to submit a question or an AMA episode or would like to work with us to improve your public service team, go to: www.teamprotego.com

If you’d like to submit a question or an AMA episode or would like to work with us to improve your public service team, go to: www.teamprotego.com

If you’d like to submit a question or an AMA episode or would like to work with us to improve your public service team, go to: www.teamprotego.com