FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, Feb. 7, 2026
Contact: Tony Mangan, Communications Director, 605-773-6878
PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley congratulates the 23 students who graduate today (Friday) from the state Basic Telecommunicator Certification Course.
“We can never take telecommunicators for granted,” said Attorney General Jackley. “They are the first voice people hear when they call for assistance,”
Graduation completes the two-week course for the students who represent 15 different law enforcement or communication centers statewide. The course includes training and hands-on exercises on issues such as public safety telecommunications, how to respond to questions from the caller, how to handle both emergency and non-emergency calls for service, and how to prioritize multiple incidents happening at one time.
Instructors are staff from the State Division of Criminal Investigation’s Office of Law Enforcement Training, which is part of the Attorney General’s Office; experienced 911 telecommunicators from across the state, and public safety stakeholders.
Today’s graduation starts at 3:30 p.m. CST in the George S. Mickelson Criminal Justice Center in Pierre. Chief Deputy Attorney General Brent Kempema is the keynote speaker.
Members of the 80th session of the Basic Telecommunicator Certification Course and their law enforcement organization are:
*** Mersadez Asheim, Pennington County Emergency Services Communications Center
*** Emelia Basso, Pennington County Emergency Services Communications Center
*** Kiera Bennett, Marshall County Sheriff’s Office
*** Amy Blankartz, Mobridge Police Department
*** Madison Cheever, Metro Communications
*** Jacob Clark, Spink County Sheriff’s Office
*** Ian Cole, Brown County Sheriff’s Office
*** Adrianna Duman, Pennington County Emergency Services Communications Center
*** Donovan Knecht, Mobridge Police Department
*** Shelly Kutilek-Olson, Mitchell Police Department
*** Lacy Laughard, Winner Police Department
*** Amy Leal, Pennington County Emergency Services Communications Center
*** Delaynie Meyer, University of South Dakota
*** Cassandra Nelson, Pennington County Emergency Services Communications Center
*** Sumar Petersen, Central South Dakota Communications
*** Kathryn Ramig, South Dakota State University Police
*** Kiara Schmeichel, Mobridge Police Department
*** Brooklyn Serreyn, Watertown Police Department
*** Melissa Smith, Pennington County Emergency Services Communications Center
*** Nathan VonHaden, Union County Sheriff’s Office
*** Courtney Walker, Butte County Sheriff’s Office
*** Alexandria Walter, Yankton Police Department
*** Gavin Whitledge, Mitchell Police Department
-30-
