On February 24, 2024, in Sarasota, Florida, Public Safety Telecommunicator Dionne Tomkins was relieving main radios when a bank robbery was reported to dispatch. The bank location was on the county line. She quickly voiced the call to the zone unit and updated responding units as further information was received.
Tomkins controlled the incident and the heavy radio traffic flawlessly. She created a perimeter for the scene that was made up of both Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies. She documented where units were positioned, and when Tomkins saw an area of the perimeter that did not have coverage, she quickly advised units and got it covered. This turned out to be the path the suspect took, and the K9 unit was able to track him. She kept the units and dispatch screen updated and organized.
As a result of her actions, Tomkins received numerous compliments and recognition of her dedication from both the road units and fellow employees. While the suspect was not captured that day, he was captured a few days later.
Please join us in congratulating Dionne Tomkins of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, who went above and beyond, by presenting her the “Teammates in Action Award.”
Thank you, Tomkins, for your hard work and dedication.
