CENCOM Managers Certified As Public Safety Leaders

By STAFF REPORTS

Posted: November 26, 2009 at 5:06 a.m.

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Two Benton County Central Communications staff members in September became registered public safety leaders through the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials Institute.

Matt Garrity, director of Central Communications, and Josh Billis, CENCOM manager, are two of only six registered public safety leaders in Arkansas, Garrity said.

Attending the class gave Garrity and Billis an opportunity to network with other emergency communications professionals and to share ideas on how to improve service, Garrity said.

Garrity said he helped a fellow emergency dispatch manager find the best schedules for 911 operators by explaining the schedule Benton County dispatchers are on.

Dealing with different types of personalities, hostile negotiations and improving written and oral communications are some of the topics of the class, Garrity said.

The class “makes us better leaders in all aspects,” Garrity said. “Personally it helped me grow as a director by helping my communication skills.”

Billis said the course helped him to focus on the big picture.

“We run a team of people that protect the lives of the public so when we are better leaders, we can have better leaders on the floor. That makes a big difference,” Billis said.

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