In one of the region’s busiest emergency communications centers, thousands of calls can quickly become numbers on a screen. But to the person calling for help, there is only one call—and it may be the most important call of their life.
Tramaine Vornes never loses sight of the person behind that call.
The 2026 PSAPs’ Finest Telecommunicator of the Year Award recognizes Tramaine, Emergency Response Call Operator with City of Memphis Police Emergency Communications in Memphis, Tennessee, for extraordinary performance grounded in patience, empathy, and grace under pressure.
In 2025 alone, Tramaine handled an exceptional 28,851 calls, including 15,873 emergency 911 calls, consistently ranking among his Bureau’s highest-performing call takers. Yet even under that tremendous workload, he makes every caller feel as though theirs is the only call that matters.
Tramaine has an exceptional ability to bring calm to emotionally charged situations. He listens carefully, gathers critical information quickly, and gives responding officers the details they need to protect citizens, themselves, and one another.
One call demonstrated just how much the right combination of skill, technology, and determination can accomplish. Tramaine used RapidSOS to help locate a woman and her child who were being held against their will inside a residence by a man the woman had only recently met. His resourcefulness helped connect them with the assistance they urgently needed.
Colleagues also know Tramaine for his humility and desire to keep improving. He welcomes feedback, works continually to strengthen his skills, and earns the respect of those around him through his quiet professionalism and steady presence.
Behind Tramaine’s performance is something deeply personal: an understanding of what it means to need help and have nowhere else to turn. That understanding informs the compassion he extends to every person who reaches him on the phone.
To learn more about Tramaine’s commitment to his community and the experiences that have shaped his approach to serving callers, we spoke with him about his career.
What attracted you to a career in public safety/911 emergency communications?Tramaine: I’ve always, even as a very young child, wanted to contribute to my community in some way.
What is your most memorable career experience?Tramaine: My most memorable moment would be the first time I used RapidSOS to help locate a woman and her child being held in a residence against her will by a male she had only just met.
What do you most love about what you do?Tramaine: I love being able to help someone who had nowhere else to turn receive the exact help they were looking for. I recall many times in life when no one was that person for me.
What advice would you have for others thinking about a similar career path?Tramaine: Take every day, every moment, in stride. Compartmentalization is also a superpower.
What does it mean to be recognized with a PSAPs’ Finest Award?Tramaine: It means someone, perhaps several people, is paying closer attention to the work that I do than I previously realized. I’m grateful they recognize the effort I put into serving the citizens, as I’d expect the same service if I’m ever in need.
About the PSAPs’ Finest Awards
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
