Two Daly City Residents Honored for their Work as San Francisco Dispatchers

San Francisco’s Public Safety Dispatchers are the city’s first, first responders.  They receive and dispatch all emergency calls for Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services, in addition to non-emergency calls.  Dispatchers also provide potentially lifesaving medical instruction until personnel arrive. Last year, over 1 million calls were handled by San Francisco’s 145 dispatchers.  This year two Daly City residents were honored for their excellent performance in managing life threatening situations.Corinina “Cori” Cruz, Dispatcher of the Year Eight year Public Safety Dispatcher Corinina “Cori” Cruz was selected by hercolleagues as Dispatcher of the Year for her heroic efforts while workingthe police radio channel during a call for dispatch of a father who reportedhis son was suicidal, armed with a gun, and driving a stolen vehicle.  When officers arrived on scene they saw the suspect leaving the area in a vehicle. The officers began following the vehicle and soon after the suspect fired his weapon. A police chase ensues on city streets, taking the freeway, and eventually ending on Treasure Island. During the chase the armed subject held a gun to his head while driving.  He exited the vehicle on Treasure Island, and continued to pose a threat to police officers and himself.  A hostage negotiator was summoned to the scene. Following numerous hours of negotiations the armed subject shot himself and ended his own life. This was a very volatile incident that had potential risk to the lives of many. Corihandled every aspect of this event professionally, while remaining calm andpoised during this unstable and unpredictable scene, coordinating the responsesof over 40 San Francisco Police Officers. Cori is cool, calm and professional as a dispatcher.  However, in between calls we see a person that is caring, humble, and soft spoken.  When asked about her award she defers to her colleagues and how it was truly a team effort.  She is quick to point out that her fellow dispatchers and her supervisors all pitched in by coordinating the additional resources needed as she was busy on the radio.    Like nurses, police officers and firefighters, there is a dispatcher on duty 24/7.  Cori often misses family gatherings or outings with friends because she’s on duty protecting the people of San Francisco.  Cori is quick to point out that all dispatchers make this sacrifice and she is no different. Cori’s professionalism and her personality endear her to her colleagues.  Whenever she is on the phone she is the first voice of reassurance people hear when they call 9-1-1.  On the radio, she calmly coordinates her fellow first responders so they and the public stay safe.  Corinina Cruz is a credit to her fellowdispatchers and is one of our everyday heroes that keep San Francisco safe. Edgar Velasco, 9-1-1 for Kids Honoree Edgar Velasco received a call transferred from CHP from ten year old Tala Rahal requesting a medical response for her mother. Tala’s mother was having a severe headache, not entirely awake and she was breathing "a little bit". Throughout Edgar’s contact with Tala he provided expert assistance and complete compassion to Tala (who was very anxious and distraught) and her two younger siblings. Edgar gave assurances that help was on the way and reminded Tala that she was doing a great job helping her mother. Edgar’s compassion and his very calm manner greatly reduced the Tala’s anxieties. Edgar has been a dispatcher for 11 years.  According to Edgar, dispatcher do so much more than just answer phone calls. They work the police & fire radio channels, as well as managing deployment of the emergency medical fleet.  He feels it is technical and difficult job that requires a lot of training and sacrifice.  Both Cori and Edgar were honored at separate ceremonies at San Francisco City Hall.  This week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in San Francisco.  In San Francisco, dispatchers respond to more than one million emergency calls per year. Dispatchers provide law enforcement dispatch (Police and Sheriff), Fire, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and provide medical instruction.