Emergency Communications Officer of the Quarter
The Foundation is happy to be able to provide a cash award on behalf of the citizens of the City of Lynchburg to the Emergency Communications Officer of the Quarter: Kathy Powell.
“Kathy Powell has provided over 19 years of dedicated service to the citizens and employees of Lynchburg as a telecommunications specialist. One of the many stressful and crucial tasks she performs flawlessly is handling radio traffic during a vehicle pursuit.
On the morning of April 19th, 2024, Powell was working the primary police dispatch channel when an officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop in the area of 5th St at Commerce St. The vehicle fled, leading officers on a pursuit that extended into Amherst County. The driver eventually returned to the city, abandoned their vehicle, and fled on foot into the James River along Concord Turnpike. The entire pursuit lasted about 35 minutes. During the pursuit, Kathy remained calm and collected, entering all updates into the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. She commanded the situation in the communications room, relaying officers’ requests to other dispatchers to ensure tasks were completed efficiently. Kathy’s focus and calm demeanor during this event, along with the precise performance of all officers involved, helped bring this event to a safe conclusion.
Thank you for your dedication and excellent service, Kathy!”
The Foundation thanks Kathy Powell for her dedication to the Lynchburg Police Department and our community.
Donations to the Foundation allow us to continue to recognize our Lynchburg Police Department professional staff on behalf of our fellow citizens.