During a city council meeting on Monday, Hewitt police recognized two of its communication specialists for their behind the scenes work during a high-speed chase last month.
Robinson police requested assistance from Hewitt police when they were chasing murder suspect Kyle McCurrin from Wichita Falls. The 28-year-old, who is now deceased, is accused of killing Dennis Pavlas, 59, in Abbott. According to officers, McCurrin was shooting at them during the high-speed chase.
Hewitt Police Communications Specialists Janice Carter and Samantha Helmick received a call from Robinson Police asking for assistance.
"I've only been here for a year with the department and that was my first pursuit ever. It went from normal calls to shots fired it was pretty intense," said Carter.
The two dispatchers had to keep Robinson Police dispatchers on one line while listening and talking to Hewitt officers because they can't hear the radio traffic from nearby agencies.
"We were updating our officers when necessary because our officers couldn't hear Robinson and vice versa. We were creative with how we did it," Helmick said.
The dispatchers also contacted other agencies for assistance, like the Department of Public Safety and Waco Police, as the pursuit entered Interstate 35 and the Waco city limits.
"They have worked really hard to work with some of the problems and roadblocks with this radio system and have used that telephone and they're very good at transferring the information from one agency to another," Hewitt Police Chief James Devlin said.
Devlin added the dispatchers helped keep officers safe.
"They were essentially the lifeline for these officers. They kept them safe and gave them the information they required and they needed."
Helmick was happy to receive commendations for her performance.
"We definitely don't do any of this for recognition so it's kind of a special thing to be recognized for a call like this," Helmick said.
Carter was also appreciative of Chief Devlin recognizing them before the city council.
"Very grateful. Cpl. Naylor didn't have to acknowledge the work we do behind the scenes. It was very nice of him to do that," Carter said.
Robinson Police said the chase ended when McCurrin killed himself before crashing on Lakeshore Drive.
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