Emergency Communications Team Receives Golden Headset Award
The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Team was recognized Friday in Wallace for exceptional courage and professionalism during an active shooter incident that unfolded inside the agency’s own facility on December 26, 2025. The team received the Golden Headset Award for Outstanding Emergency Communications Team, presented by Zetron, a global provider of emergency communications software and systems.
The award acknowledges the dispatchers’ critical actions during one of the most dangerous scenarios first responders can face: an armed threat within their own workplace. When gunfire erupted inside the sheriff’s office that December day, the communications team did not abandon their posts. Instead, they coordinated the evacuation of portions of the building while maintaining their positions at the 9-1-1 consoles, continuing to field incoming emergency calls and dispatch assistance even as active threat conditions persisted.
Dispatchers Performed Under Direct Fire
Veteran dispatchers Jonnie Rotchford and Suzanne Evans were among those working while under active fire. Despite the danger, they continued processing incoming emergency calls and coordinating the dispatch of assistance—a responsibility that required them to remain at their stations in the face of an immediate threat to their own safety.
SCSO Dispatch Director Casey Van Buskirk submitted the team’s nomination for the award. In accepting the recognition, Van Buskirk reflected on the commitment that drove the team’s performance. “We love this job. We love our people, and we love the people that we serve,” Van Buskirk stated.
Nicole Belloli, representing Zetron, presented the award and underscored the often-invisible role communications professionals play in emergency response. “Behind every successful emergency response is a team working together when it matters most,” Belloli said.
Recognition From a Global Program
Zetron launched its Golden Headset Award program four years ago to recognize emergency communications teams demonstrating exceptional performance under challenging circumstances. This year, Shoshone County’s dispatch team was selected as one of only six recipients chosen from Zetron’s global client base, highlighting the significance of their actions during the December incident.
The shooting at the sheriff’s office marked a traumatic moment for the county and its law enforcement community. In the months following the incident, the sheriff’s office moved through a leadership transition. Sheriff Shawn Wehr was appointed to the position approximately three months after the shooting occurred.
The Golden Headset Award recognizes the reality that emergency dispatchers operate in the shadows of public safety—their voices on the other end of 9-1-1 calls are often the first and most critical human contact during crises. The Shoshone County team’s decision to remain at their posts during an active threat, continuing to serve the public while their own workplace was under attack, exemplifies the dedication expected of emergency communications professionals.
The recognition comes as the county continues to support its law enforcement personnel and reflects the broader commitment of emergency services to maintain operational readiness even under the most extraordinary circumstances.
What Comes Next
Shoshone County’s sheriff’s office will continue normal operations under the leadership of Sheriff Wehr. The county’s emergency communications infrastructure remains a critical backbone of public safety response across the Silver Valley. The Golden Headset Award serves as a public acknowledgment of the professionalism and courage that dispatchers bring to their work every day, whether during routine calls or extraordinary emergencies.