TEMECULA, Calif. — PlantCML, an EADS North America company, is proud to recognize the outstanding and extraordinary service of dispatcher Jerry Sprouse, of New Kent County Sheriff’s Office in New Kent, Va. Jerry has been with the Sheriff’s Office since 1979 and has progressively achieved many accolades in his more than 30-year career, despite the complete loss of his eyesight in his mid-teens.
First hired by interim Sheriff Art Bowman as a switchboard operator, Jerry has worked for Sheriff F.W. Howard since he took office. He first served as a dispatcher on a Saturday night in 1981, filling in for a co-worker and working side by side with the department’s dispatchers. Afterward, he became a full time dispatcher, learning to answer emergency calls, teletype to state-run databases, perform computer-aided dispatch and discover other responsibilities necessary to do the job he loved. His biggest achievement was working solo from 1981 through 1992.
“I can’t stress enough how everyone on our team has contributed to my success,” says Jerry. “They have selflessly helped me to learn how to excel at my job and keep pace with the technology in so many ways.”
He recalls his most exciting incident on a Saturday night in 1982 when there was a murder and, working by himself, he had all first responders on site in less than 20 minutes. He took a brief retirement in 1999, but quickly decided retirement wasn’t for him, so after one year he returned with renewed resolve to work as a dispatcher. His peer in the department, Karen Johnson, calls him “one of our greatest assets.”
“I hope to be here as long as I can,” says Jerry. “And I want everyone who has blindness as a handicap to know that they can contribute in many ways and have a productive life if given a bit of an opportunity like the kind I have been given. I am more grateful than I can ever express.”
New Kent County Sheriff’s Office has been a PlantCML customer since 1994 and is currently operating with its next-generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) call processing solution, VESTA Pallas. Jerry uses specially modified equipment, including a modified keyboard.
“PlantCML has been excellent to work with. It has been a combined effort and I could not have kept up with the technology advances without their help as well as that of my colleagues,” concludes Jerry.
“Jerry’s dedication and hard work are truly amazing,” said Dave Rutan, CEO, PlantCML. “New Kent County Sheriff’s Office has a great team and we are proud to be their partner in helping Jerry and the entire department save and protect lives.”
The New Kent County Sheriff's Office is the principal provider of law enforcement for the County of New Kent, Va., providing service to an estimated population of 16,000 residents within the County’s 212 square miles. Under the leadership of Sheriff F. W. Howard, Jr., the Sheriff’s Office has become one of the most respected and professional law enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth.
About PlantCML, an EADS North America Company
A pioneer and trusted leader in mission critical communications, PlantCML, an EADS North America company, provides key technologies for public safety, federal and corporate markets. Our full-circle security and communications portfolio includes 9-1-1 call center CTI applications for call processing, CAD, mapping and information management, as well as managed services, notification solutions and services and P25 Land Mobile Radio networks. Headquartered in Temecula, California.
About EADS North America
EADS North America is the North American operation of EADS, a global leader in aerospace, defense and related services. As a leader in all sectors of defense and homeland security, EADS North America and its parent company, EADS, contribute over $11 billion to the U.S. economy annually and support more than 200,000 American jobs through its network of suppliers and services. Operating in 17 states, EADS North America offers a broad array of advanced solutions to its customers in the commercial, homeland security, aerospace and defense markets.