San Francisco Public Safety Dispatcher of the Year, Natalie Elicetche
For the second year in a row, a Richmond District resident has been named San Francisco’s Public Safety Dispatcher of the Year. The award was given to 9-1-1 dispatcher Natalie Elicetche during a ceremony on Tuesday at City Hall.
Elicetche received the award largely in part to the role she played in assisting with an emergency out of state, in Tennessee.
In October of last year, Elicetche answered a 9-1-1 call from a San Francisco woman who said she had received a call from her former roommate, and Tennessee resident, Daniel Lee Henry. Henry told her that he had just murdered his family with a gun.
Rather than just provide the caller with a number to Tennessee law enforcement, Elicetche took matters into her own hands to try and alert authorities in the area.
She initially bounced from agency to agency until she connected with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s deputies used the information from Elicetche’s caller to locate the scene of the incident and confirm that a family was murdered – Henry’s parents and aunt. The next day U.S. Marshals arrested Daniel Lee Henry in New Orleans, Louisiana.
“Natalie is being recognized for finding justice for the victims of this horrendous crime. She exhibited compassion, strength, and initiative during an incredibly complex situation,” said Anne Kronenberg, Executive Director of the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management.
Elicetche was raised in the Richmond District where she still resides, and has served more than 13 years as a Public Safety Dispatcher in San Francisco. The Dispatcher of the Year is elected by their fellow dispatchers for extraordinary performance while answering 9-1-1 calls or dispatching emergency services.
San Francisco receives more than 1.2 million emergency and non-emergency calls annually. 9-1-1 professionals dispatch Police, Fire, and ambulance to the scene of accidents, crimes, fires, and other emergency and non-emergency situations. In addition to taking calls from the public, dispatchers act as the communications hub for emergency services and must quickly assess situations and dispatch the appropriate first responders to help.
“It is important to recognize all the amazing work our San Francisco dispatchers perform for our residents. They are the first to provide the help and reassurance people need during emergencies,” explained Supervisor Mar. “I am proud to recognize a Richmond District resident as the City’s Dispatcher of the Year.”
Congratulations, Natalie and thank you for your hard work!
Sarah B.
Natalie Elicetche at work
Great job, and congrats!
Way to go, Natalie! Also a big shout out to all the dispatchers and first responders.
There has been a woman whose spoken to me with real compassion on the non-emergency line lately and whomever that is, my family is grateful to her as well; it’s hard not to feel embarrassed sometimes when calling about things less horrific than this.