Dispatcher Earns State Crime Stoppers Award
Yalobusha County dispatcher Latonia Smith (center) received the Mississippi Crime Stoppers Law Enforcement Support Staff Award last month. Making the presentation were Leisa McElreath (left) and Trish Harbour (right).
WATER VALLEY – A Yalobusha County dispatcher received the Mississippi Crime Stoppers 2017 Law Enforcement Support Staff Award last month. Dispatcher Latonia Smith was presented the award by Trish Harbour, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety Division of Crime Stoppers, and Leisa McElreath with the Mississippi Crime Stoppers Council.
“Mrs. Smith did an outstanding job and we wanted to honor her for that,” Harbour told the Herald. Smith was the lone dispatcher on duty on June 16 when deputy Thomas West was ambushed and shot, miraculously West only sustained minor injuries. Another Yalobusha County deputy, Donald Wilson, and a Water Valley police officer, Derrick Yancey, were also involved, backing up West, in a 13-minute shoot-out that would rival battle in a war zone and ended with the death of a Missouri man and woman.
“Latonia played a huge role as dispatcher by assisting the deputies and officer during a life or death situation,” Sheriff Lance Humphreys explained. “You just can’t say enough about her professionalism on the radio during a time when emotions were running high and every second was crucial after deputy Thomas West was shot.”
Harbour explained that each year Mississippi Crime Stoppers has an annual awards banquet to honor officers and departments for distinguished service, but this was the first time a support staff award had been presented.
“Dispatchers are a vital part of every law enforcement agency,” Harbour explained. “When we learned about Ms. Smith, we thought this would be a well-deserved honor.
Smith also received a letter of commendation during a Yalobusha County Sheriff’s Department awards banquet on Sept. 16. All three law enforcement officers were awarded the Medal of Valor and presented letters of commendation from Humphreys, Senator Thad Cochran and Governor Phil Bryant for their bravery. West also received the purple heart.
