Webster County dispatcher honored by national group
Ganzeveld receives Sunshine Dispatcher Award
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A Webster County 911 dispatcher was honored Wednesday by a national group that supports public safety telecommunications professionals.
Katelyn Ganzeveld received the Sunshine Dispatcher Award from Gold Line Support.
She is the first Iowa dispatcher to receive the honor.
The Sunshine Dispatcher Award is national recognition for dispatchers who go above and beyond, according to information provided by Gold Line Support, a non-profit organization dedicated to recognizing, supporting and elevating public safety communications professionals.
Ganzeveld's award citation acknowledged the calm professionalism she brings to the job everyday.
The award was presented in the Webster County Law Enforcement Center by Payton Garmoe, who is the Iowa ambassador for Gold Line Support and a Lee County dispatcher.
The presentation was a surprise to Ganzeveld.
Deputy Sheriff Nick Dunbar helped to preserve surprise until the last minute. Ganzeveld is also a reserve deputy for the county, so on Wednesday afternoon, Dunbar had her meet him in the courthouse to discuss reserve unit business. This kept her from noticing Garmoe's arrival and the small group gathering in the Law Enforcement Center lobby.
During their meeting, Dunbar said they had to go check out a report of strange person in the lobby. The two walked in the building's front door and Garmoe surprised Ganzeveld with her award certificate.
Ganzeveld began working part-time as a dispatcher in 2022 while she was a student at Iowa Central Community College.
"I've always been interested in law enforcement,” she said.
The dispatcher job, she said, was a way to get her foot in the door for a law enforcement career.
She graduated from Iowa Central in 2023 with an Associate of Arts degree in criminal justice. She then became a fulltime dispatcher.
The most rewarding part of the job, she said, is "knowing that I get help to people in need."