PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley today praised 17 new graduates of the state’s Basic Telecommunicator Certification Course, including several who will serve communities in South Dakota.
The graduates successfully completed the two-week, mandatory training administered by the state Division of Criminal Investigation’s Office of Law Enforcement Training. The course prepares new telecommunicators to serve as the critical first link in public safety, covering essential skills such as emergency and non-emergency call handling, caller response techniques, and prioritizing multiple incidents.
“These graduates have answered the call to serve, committing themselves to one of the most critical roles in public safety,” Attorney General Jackley said. “They are the voices of calm during the chaos.”
Among the 17 graduates of the 79th session are telecommunicators who will work for agencies serving the western part of South Dakota:
- Vanessa Hautekeete, Pennington County Emergency Services Communication Center
- Brooks Ferguson, Meade County Sheriff’s Office
- Brianne Davis, Spearfish Police Department
- Jennifer Snider, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office
Pennington County’s Emergency Services Communication Center serves the Rapid City area, while Meade, Lawrence, and Spearfish are all integral parts of the northern Black Hills region.
The graduation ceremony began at 3:30 p.m. at the George S. Mickelson Criminal Justice Center in Pierre. Chief Deputy Attorney General Brent Kempema delivered the keynote address.
The full list of graduates and their respective law enforcement or communication centers includes: Dominique Bettelyoun, Rosebud Police Department; Jospeh Blankartz, Metro Communications; Robert Coltharp, Spink County Sheriff’s Office; Brianne Davis, Spearfish Police Department; Jaydin Emery, Winner Police Department; Brooks Ferguson, Meade County Sheriff’s Office; Chance Garcia, Lower Brule Law Enforcement Sioux Tribe; Meaghan Gordon, Metro Communications; Vanessa Hautekeete, Pennington County Emergency Services Communication Center; Junia Hofer, Brown County Communications; Lily Hohn, Edmunds County Sheriff’s Office; Madison Janis, Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety; Cierra Keen, Charles Mix County 911 Sheriff’s Office; Kasey Moen, Metro Communications; Jennifer Snider, Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office; Sapphire Tiger, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe; and Heather Wilkinson, Brown County Communications.