Three Belleville Police Department telecommunicators were honored this week after their work helped bring a missing juvenile to safety. Amber Crump, Amanda Richardson‑Chittum and Josh Potrawski received the Telecommunicator Award at the 33rd annual SILEC/SIPCA banquet, the department said. According to police, the trio juggled multiple emergencies while identifying a suspect and vehicle, coordinating across jurisdictions and keeping information moving until the juvenile was found alive in the trunk of a vehicle.
The Belleville Police Department said in a Facebook post that telecommunicators answered a 9‑1‑1 call reporting a missing juvenile who was believed to have been lured online. In that post, the department said the operators worked from the first call to pull together suspect and vehicle details, then coordinated in real time with Missouri agencies as the suspect fled. The department added that the juvenile was ultimately located alive in the trunk of a vehicle and that a suspect was taken into custody.
Regional Honors At The SILEC/SIPCA Banquet
The Telecommunicator Award is one of several recognitions handed out at the annual SILEC/SIPCA Awards Banquet, which honors law enforcement and emergency-services personnel across southern Illinois. SILEC/SIPCA lists the banquet as an annual event, and local reporting noted that the 33rd ceremony took place late this month with multiple Belleville officers recognized. RiverBender reported on the event and on the department’s other awards.
Dispatchers and call‑takers are often the first point of contact in fast‑moving investigations, supplying incoming details, relaying suspect descriptions and coordinating multi‑agency responses under pressure. National organizations that oversee emergency communications say telecommunicators frequently perform lifesaving work before officers ever arrive on scene. APCO International documents similar awards and the standards used to evaluate such responses.
Legal Status Of The Investigation
In its Facebook post, the Belleville Police Department said the missing‑juvenile case was treated as a kidnapping/abduction investigation and remains active. The department said investigators coordinated with out‑of‑state agencies during the response and that a suspect is in custody. Officials did not provide additional details on charges or court dates; those will be determined through formal filings as the investigation continues.
City leaders praised the telecommunicators for steady communication and quick decision‑making, saying the awards recognize the largely unseen work that can prove decisive in dangerous cases. The department’s post included the names and a brief description of the response, and the awards serve as a reminder of how 9‑1‑1 centers and regional cooperation can save lives.
