Rockland County Legislator Paul Cleary led a ceremony Tuesday evening honoring two Rockland County 911 Radio Operators for their outstanding efforts at a time when three patients needed them most.
Rockland County Sheriff’s Office 911/Communications Division Radio Operators Geoffrey Dick and Chakiera Locust were presented with the Distinguished Service Award, the Legislature’s highest honor, for their efforts in helping to bring two babies into the world and aiding a man in cardiac arrest.
“These dispatchers do as their title implies, dispatch, but sometimes, people need help before those who are dispatched can arrive and that’s when our honorees really stepped up,” Legislator Cleary said.
On Dec. 1, a 73-year-old Spring Valley man was found unconscious in his home, having complained about heart palpitations and chest pain throughout the day before experiencing sudden cardiac arrest at 1:30 a.m. Radio Operator Geoffrey Dick gave instructions to the family to open the victim’s airway and start CPR chest compressions while his partners coordinated the turnout of emergency responders. Upon arriving, those responders were able to restore the victim’s pulse and blood pressure before transporting him to the hospital.
Geoffrey is no stranger to helping others in need. A graduate of Tappan Zee High School, he earned a certificate from the criminal justice program at Rockland BOCES and previously attended SUNY Rockland. He is also an active member of the Tappan Fire Department, South Orangetown Ambulance Corps, and the Rockland County Regional Technical Rescue Team.
Geoffrey’s skills were also put to the test helping to bring a beautiful new life into the world. It was about 4 a.m. on Jan. 11 when the call came that a Pomona mother was about to deliver her baby. Geoffrey coached the 911 caller and the mother as the baby arrived. The mother and her newborn baby boy were transported to the hospital without incident by arriving first responders.
Honoree Chakiera Locust also helped bring a beautiful new baby into the world. A caller reported at 11 p.m. on Dec. 13 that the baby was coming. Chakiera coached the Garnerville caller and mother through a successful delivery, and both mother and baby boy were transported to the hospital without incident.
Chakiera is from Haverstraw and a graduate of SUNY Rockland, holding an A.A.S. in paralegal studies.
In all three of these incidents, the actions of the radio operators were a vital link in the “chain of survival” for the patients.
“These radio operators are part of the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office 911/Communications Division, and I want to note that what starts at the top reflects down, so I want to thank our Sheriff, Louis Falco III, and our Communications Division Chief, Adam Feuer, for setting the high bar that our radio operators strive for each and every day,” Legislator Cleary said.
Both Geoffrey and Chakiera have trained extensively, successfully completing more than 1,000 hours of study and practice, including both classroom instruction and live work under supervision, as part of the Communications Division’s nationally accredited training program. Along the way, each also passed three national certification exams.
“On behalf of the entire Legislature, I thank Geoffrey and Chakiera for all they do,” Legislator Cleary said. “They truly exemplify the term ‘public service,’ and every day they and their colleagues make a difference to the residents of Rockland County.”
