For 20 years, the PSAPs’ Finest Awards have celebrated the men and women who serve as the lifeline of emergency response. These awards honor those who may not always be seen, but whose voices, leadership, and actions change lives every single day. Telecommunicators are often the very first point of contact in a crisis — the calm in the storm when seconds matter most.Each year, the PSAPs’ Finest Telecommunicator of the Year award recognizes an individual who exemplifies excellence, professionalism, and compassion under pressure.For 2025, that honor goes to Allison Weil of Hutchinson–Reno County Emergency Communications in Hutchinson, Kansas.Allison has consistently set the standard for excellence in her center. Her annual quality assurance scores average an extraordinary 97.36, reflecting her professionalism, accuracy, and composure in the most challenging situations. Day in and day out, she demonstrates remarkable calm and precision, ensuring that help reaches those in need quickly and effectively.One call in particular highlights Allison’s skill and compassion. She answered a call from a 12-year-old boy who was alone with his mother as she suffered repeated seizures without regaining consciousness. With no other help available, Allison became his lifeline. Through steady reassurance and clear instructions, she guided him step by step, giving him the courage and direction he needed until responders arrived. In a terrifying moment, Allison’s calm voice made all the difference.This story is just one example of Allison’s incredible impact. She has received three separate life-saving awards for expertly coaching callers through CPR instructions in critical emergencies. In each of these cases, her guidance directly contributed to stabilizing patients and giving them a fighting chance until first responders could take over.But Allison’s contributions extend far beyond the headset. She serves as a trainer and mentor for new recruits, helping to shape the next generation of telecommunicators with her knowledge, patience, and encouragement.She also became her center’s very first Community Outreach Coordinator, leading initiatives to educate the public, strengthen community relationships, and support recruiting efforts. Her work has elevated not just her center’s performance, but also its connection to the community it serves.Those who work alongside Allison describe her as empathetic, patient, and inspiring — someone who not only delivers excellence herself, but lifts others to do the same. She embodies the very qualities this award was created to honor: professionalism, compassion, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to saving lives.To learn more about Allison’s journey and what this recognition means to her, we spoke with her about her career in emergency communications.What attracted you to a career in public safety / 911 emergency communications? Allison:I was never supposed to end up in dispatch. I was well into a degree in elementary special education and realized that that type of chaos was not the kind I wanted. When my husband and I moved to Hutchinson, I happened to see an application for dispatch, and I applied on a whim. I was very pregnant with my now 2-year-old, and I wanted something where I could spend time with my family and that they would be proud of. All of my family has been very supportive and proud of the crazy leap I took into 911. I can never thank them enough.What is your most memorable career experience? Allison:The building explosion we had on February 22, 2025! Imagine our surprise when our firefighters said they had just evacuated a building, and within about 30 seconds, it exploded. One of our city cameras pointed directly at the building, so we could watch our amazing fire units do what they do best.What do you most love about what you do? Allison:I love that every day is different! I get tired of experiencing the same routine every day, so in a center that handles two law enforcement channels along with Fire/EMS, I get to experience everything beyond the routine. My coworkers are also some of the funniest people ever, and very tolerant of all of my horrible, horrible jokes. Being able to celebrate the little wins every day with my crew is amazing.What advice would you have for others thinking about a similar career path? Allison:Accept that you will not always be right, especially during training. 911 is constantly evolving and always throwing something new at us, especially when we aren’t expecting it. As much as we study and train, we can’t know everything. If you mess up, take a breath and keep rolling. Learn from the experience!What does it mean to be recognized with a PSAPs’ Finest Award? Allison:It means the world! Never in a million years would I have even anticipated getting this award. When I received the notification about being recognized, I had to read it four or five times to make sure what I was reading was correct. This helped me realize again that people do notice what we do, even though we’re the invisible first responders. I can’t imagine doing anything other than dispatching. This is my home, and being recognized made it even cozier.
About the PSAPs’ Finest Award
PSAPs’ Finest is an annual recognition program honoring excellence in emergency communications centers (ECCs). The awards celebrate individual and team achievements each year across categories including Lifetime Achievement, Above & Beyond, Communications Center Director/Manager, Line Supervisor, Technician, Trainer, Telecommunicator, Innovator, and PSAP of the Year.More information can be found at: https://www.nicepublicsafety.com/psaps-finest-awards
