Call Center Employee Honored for Stopping Suicide

The communications center at the Clearwater Police department receives nearly 190,000 calls in a year.

There are more than 36 people who field these calls 24 hours a day, everyday.

But it was one call that came in June 6 that earned Sam Taylor, a senior operator, the center’s bi-annual employee award.

Taylor, who has worked for the department nearly 10 years, received a call to the Veterans Crisis Hotline from a man who said he was contemplating suicide. 

The caller gave no name and hung up before the crisis center could identify him or determine his location. 

Attempted callbacks went unanswered, however, Taylor was able to get a first name from the caller's voice mail. Taylor did a little more research and was able able to identify the phone service provider. 

Taylor had the phone company track where the phone was located and that information was relayed to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

The man was found and deputies were able to Baker Act him.

 “The way you handled this call may very well have saved this subject’s life,” wrote Robert W. Jones, communications manager for the police department.

Taylor also takes charge of training new communications center employees and overseeing various shifts.

“I have observed you being an individual who possesses an excellent work ethic and holds himself to a higher standard,” Jones wrote.

For Taylor's excellent performance as a senior operator and trainer, he was given a special parking space and a hand shake on a job well done.