Cherokee E-911 Named Call Center of the Year

Cherokee County E-911 has been named Georgia’s 2024 Call Center of the Year.

The 9-1-1 team was bestowed the award March 27 during the Georgia Emergency Communications Conference in Athens.

“I am extremely proud of the work our team of E 9-1-1 professionals do every day,” said E-911 Director Shane Bonebrake. “They are the first contact with members of our community who could be experiencing one of the worst days of their lives. They connect our citizens with the public safety professionals to deliver help in people’s times of crisis, and many of them have saved lives by providing calm and clear instructions over the phone. I can’t say enough about every shift, every employee and every leader. They deserve this honor.”

The conference is a joint effort of the Association of Public Safety Communications Professionals and the National Emergency Number Association. The Call Center of the Year Award recognizes a 911 Center in the state of Georgia that exhibits professionalism, leadership, innovation and service to not only the community it serves, but also the region and state.

The award nomination focused on the agency’s community engagement, heightening public safety awareness in the community.

APCO board member Corey King, emcee of the awards ceremony, highlighted some of those accomplishments before announcing Cherokee E-911 as the Call Center of the Year.

“This agency has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to engaging and educating the public on matters of emergency response and preparedness,” he said during the announcement. “This agency’s proactive initiatives and innovative outreach programs have not only fostered a stronger sense of community resilience but have also empowered individuals to take proactive measures in times of crisis.”

The Community Outreach Team was formed to put more focus on community engagement for education and outreach. Since its formation, the team has participated in food drives and educational campaigns.

E-911 leadership has also partnered with local government agencies, law enforcement, fire departments and healthcare providers to enhance community safety initiatives.

“This department exemplifies public service in our county. I am very proud of the high performance, leadership and engagement of this 9-1-1 team. Their dedication to answering our citizens calls for assistance as well as their involvement in our community through outreach is the definition of public service excellence,” said Chief Marshal Dana Martin. “I appreciate this award putting this group of exceptional people in the spotlight, as they are first to respond to our citizens calls for assistance. This award would not be possible without each and member of this team who works around the clock every day of the year to be ready to take the next call. They make a difference when our citizens need it the most.”