Volume 6, Number 5 |May 2023

Welcome to the 42nd Basic Dispatch Academy!

DECPR is excited to welcome 13 new trainees to the 42nd BDA, which started on April 10 during National Telecommunicators Week. We wish them well, as they work toward their graduation, planned for June 2.


Meet each of the new employees


See more photos of BDA so far


Watch the hula hoop contest

Priority Dispatch milestone reached


Quality Assurance Supervisor Ulrica Smallwood visited roll call, April 4-5, to mark the six-month milestone since the Priority Dispatch implementation. She provided helpful tips and encouraged ECOs to check their email daily for Incident Performance Reports and to communicate any questions, comments or concerns about Priority Dispatch. She also recognized the top performers in each platoon. Congratulations to:


Julia Perez, A Platoon

Shakila Saunders, B Platoon

Candace Williams, C Platoon

Chiquitta Branch, D Platoon



QA Spotlight for April


CO of month icon.jpg

March ECO of the Month

Supervisor of the 1st Quarter

Personnel Memo 23-7

Personnel Memo 23-8


Send your photos

with Mom or your kids

for the DECPR social media!

April in review

Thanks to everyone

for a great NTW 2023!

Thanks to everyone who helped with food, games and prizes during National Telecommunicators Week, and thanks to those who helped organize and implement the activities, as well as those who donated.


Read more


See more photos of NTW celebrations


See videos of NTW games

Help us share 911, emergency preparedness information!

Thanks to DECPR staff who worked to support crime victims, those with autism, neighbors of Sector 311 and seniors during community events in April! Your help is needed to inform the public about 911 and emergency preparedness at future events. See the schedule, check with your supervisor and let Karen know if you can work.


Upcoming community outreach events


See more photos of community outreach

Hidden Talents

"I became interested in photography when I was in middle school. I started taking pictures with my parent's film camera, so it’s always been a hobby. I still use the film camera from time to time. I started photographing families and weddings with a few pets thrown in here and there 10 years ago. I prefer photojournalism as opposed to “posed” images. At the beginning of the pandemic, I started documenting our life in images. I wanted my grandchildren to have a story in images to reference as adults."


--Denise Johnson


See more of her photos here

We want to celebrate all of our staff members and their interests! What do you do when you are not at work?

Please email samples of your talent, including photos, if possible, to share with your coworkers here each month!

When you share, you win a newsletter prize, as well!

DECPR public Facebook

DECPR YouTube

DECPR Twitter

DECPR Instagram

OEM Facebook

OEM Twitter

What would you like to see in the monthly emailed newsletter? Let Karen know! Send your information for the June newsletter by May 17. Missed a past issue? See them all here!
Facebook  Twitter  
Richmond DEC | 804-646-5911 | www.rva.gov/911