Lassen National Forest: Katey Lewis, Dispatcher Honored

Friday, February 19, 2010

Lassen National Forest: Katey Lewis, Dispatcher Honored

BLM Honors SIFC Dispatcher Katey Lewis for Support During Shooting Incident

Date: Feb 19, 2010

Contact(s): Jeff Fontana, BLM

Katey Lewis, a Lassen National Forest dispatcher at the Susanville Interagency Fire Center (SIFC), has been honored for her outstanding support to the U. S. Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) law enforcement program.
Lewis received the commendation Friday, Feb. 19, for the critical role she played on June 16, 2009, when law enforcement officers came under fire at a marijuana growing operation near Dixie Valley in northern Lassen County.

“Katey showed her true professionalism as a dispatcher by going the extra mile and getting all the information in advance in order to be ready for an emergency,” said Troy Bolen, the BLM California special agent in charge. “When the emergency did occur, she was able to get help on the way without delay.”

Lewis was coordinating law enforcement dispatching when officers working with the Lassen County Drug Enforcement Task Force were investigating the suspected marijuana garden. She was diligent in ensuring that the task force’s location was accurately plotted, assuring that back up units were dispatched accurately and efficiently, according to Carman Prisco, a BLM law enforcement ranger involved in the incident.

“We are all standing here today because of the outstanding support we received from Katey and the dispatchers at the Susanville Interagency Fire Center,” Prisco said during the award presentation.

“We always work as a team any time there is an incident in our jurisdiction, as we did in this case” Lewis said. “Regardless of the agency we work for, we are proud to provide the highest level of support for our emergency responders.”

In the incident, suspected marijuana growers opened fire as task force officers approached the area, wounding Lassen County Sheriff’s Department deputies Dave Martin and Dave Woginrich. Lewis has been a SIFC dispatcher since 2008. She began her career as a firefighter for the Forest Service and the BLM.

Source: USFS link

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Friday, February 19, 2010