Operator Chesebro began her career with the Cookeville Police Department on Jan. 28, 1996

Cookeville – On March 14, Communications Operator and Terminal Agency Coordinator (TAC) Angela Chesebro was awarded the prestigious Ken Owen Memorial Award. Each year, the award is presented to one agency TAC or alternate TAC, across the state, by the Tennessee Information Enforcement System User Group (TIES). The award recipient is chosen by a panel comprised of East, Middle and West Tennessee representatives and the Vice Chairman of the TIES User Group.

Operator Chesebro began her career with the Cookeville Police Department (CPD) Jan. 28, 1996. Since then she has served 27 years as Communications Operator and volunteered in supporting programs within the community, according to CPD.

“She helped the Fraternal Order of Police by gathering items for Christmas baskets for indigent families and participating in the Shop with a Cop program,” said the CPD in a release. “Operator Chesebro has two children and has helped her local Boy Scout troop and Cub Scout pack with activities including fundraising and gathering needed materials for meetings and campouts. Her oldest son achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and her youngest is currently a Webelos scout.”

Cheseboro’s dedication doesn’t end with her family and community. CPD says she is heavily involved in the agency.

“She supports our Communications Operators and always tries to increase department morale by doing things such as spending her own money to purchase thank you gifts for each Communications Operator and handing them out every year, during National Public Safety Telecommunications Week,” continued the CPD.

Recently, Operator Chesebro created a missing person information form to aid officers and dispatch in getting the needed information to process the entry quickly. She also co-wrote and updated our communications-training manual and wrote an NCIC helps manual.

“Her list of accolades goes on,” said the CPD. “Operator Chesebro also plays a vital role in query certifying all our officers. She trains new Communications Operators and works daily on our Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) accreditation team, making sure our agency meets all applicable national standards. Operator Chesebro makes the Cookeville community, this department and her profession a top priority every day.

To qualify for the Ken Owen Memorial Award, a candidate must be a current TAC or Alternate TAC with at least one continuous year of service with their department and a conscientious person of good moral character. They must also have made a unique contribution to their department in the course of their work as it relates to the Tennessee Crime Information Center (TCIC) and National Crime Information Center (NCIC) systems.

Additionally, they must have a record of good audits and be actively working to keep their department in compliance with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations.

Photo courtesy of CPD.

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