BONNERS FERRY —- Crystal Denton's 20 years of service at the Boundary County Dispatch was celebrated on Friday, Aug. 5.

Denton retired as the 911 communications supervisor at BCSO Dispatch. Her career in law enforcement began in 1990 as a volunteer dispatcher in Troy, Mont. In 1994, she was hired as a temporary/seasonal dispatcher in Bonners Ferry before she moved with her family to southwest Missouri in 1996 where she worked as a dispatcher in Perry County. She worked again for Troy Dispatch in 1999, and in 2002, joined the Boundary County team.

Denton was named the Idaho Communication Center Director of the Year in 2021.

Being a dispatcher has allowed her to be the voice on the phone when someone is calling in their worst times, Denton said. That means ensuring that all responders are directed as needed or simply assisting someone with a phone number.

“Even in the worst of times just being a voice is sometimes all a person needs to move them onto the next moment in their disaster,” Denton said.

She said this career has molded her and has allowed her to be more compassionate, but strong and determined when necessary.

Lynda Ekstrom, communications expert at BCSO Dispatch said that the celebration was a little thank you for Denton’s years of service. Ekstrom has served BCSO Dispatch for 25 years.

Boundary County Sheriff Dave Kramer said that Denton was very instrumental in dispatch and IT work by getting systems set up, applying for grants throughout the years and training new dispatch members.

He added that BCSO Dispatch has had many great people who have served with longevity, spanning several decades and ensured a consistent level of safety and service in the community.

Kramer said that over the pandemic, the dispatch center has had to plan accordingly in training new staff in order to ensure that services and assistance in and outside of the dispatch zone will always be available even outside.

“Dispatch are the unsung heroes of all first responders,” the sheriff said.