NENA Member Spotlight: Kelle Hall, Communications Manager, Highland Park (TX) DPS

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Kelle Hall: My name is Kelle Hall. I am the proud parent of two brilliant, successful, independent children who have followed my footsteps and now also work in police communications. My son, Ben, is 26 and works for the Amarillo Emergency Communications Center in Amarillo, Texas. My daughter, Elizabeth, is 25 and works for the Garland, Texas Police Department. My daughter-in-law, Brandilyn, works in the banking industry as a trainer, but we won’t hold that against her!

KH: 9-1-1 signifies a lifeline. To the person hiding in her closet because someone has broken into her home, 9-1-1 is help on the way. To the child who doesn’t know her address, but learned how to dial 9-1-1 at daycare, it’s a safety net. 9-1-1 means technology and industry standards. It’s hard to believe one can send a text message to a center, requesting help. I still remember when texting was very foreign and you had to push the 7 three times quickly to get the letter "R" to appear. Wow ... as time rolls on, so does our technology. Being a 9-1-1 operator means bearing a great deal of responsibility, but the rewards are endless.