Foster City Dispatcher Recognized By San Mateo County

Foster City Dispatcher Julie Robertson was working alone in the Telecommunications Center when she received a call just after 4 a.m. one morning in March 2012.

The caller frantically reported a person was trying to break into her home. Robertson immediately sent officers to the address, while calmly advising the caller to gather her family in one room and stay away from windows and doors.

While on the phone with the caller, Robertson suddenly heard several gunshots and simutaneously received information from officers on the scene that gunshots had been fired.

The officers requested additional resources from neighboring police jurisdictions. Robertson managed this request while also contacting EMS and Fire personnel to respond to the location to assist with the intruder who had been shot by the resident inside the home.

"This is one of the most stressful and emotional incidents a dispatcher can face," an award given to Robertson after the incident reads.

"Your exceptional ability to multitask allowed you to execute the responsibilities of your position with professionalism and accuracy. You remained calm, anticipated the needs of the officers, and worked with allied agencies. Your actions have been nothing short of exemplary," reads the San Mateo County Communications Manager’s Association annual award for outstanding performance in a law enforcement incident, which Robertson was chosen to receive.

Robertson is being honored this week along with all the dispatchers in Foster City, San Mateo County, and the U.S. as part of National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, which runs from April 14-20.

The City of Foster City maintains a Public Safety Telecommunications Center, which acts as the first point of contact between community members and our emergency service providers.

During 2012, our Telecommunications Center answered more than 5600 911-calls and handled over 28,000 separate incidents. Foster City's Telecommunications Center handles calls in an effective, efficient, and professional manner.

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