HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 12-15-2020; 4-c - Proclamation Recognizing Dinah L. Jeffries 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: December 15, 2020
Action Agenda
Item No. 4-c
SUBJECT: Proclamation Recognizing Dinah L. Jeffries
DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Proclamation Kirby Saunders 919-245-6135
PURPOSE: To consider a proclamation recognizing and expressing gratitude to Dinah L. Jeffries
for her devotion and service to Orange County.
BACKGROUND: After 37 years of dedicated service to the Orange County community, Dinah
Jeffries is retiring at the end of December 2020.
Dinah Jeffries began her career of service with Orange County in 1983 as a temporary youth
counselor in a summer program with the Recreation Department. Three months later, Dinah
started her public safety journey when she was hired as Telecommunicator with the Emergency
Services department. Dinah was promoted to a Communications Shift Leader in 1988, a role she
served in for five years until transferring to a training position. In 2007, Dinah assumed the role of
Communication Operations Manager and lead the 9-1-1 Communications Division through the
implementation of new technologies, adoption of national protocols, and a re-design of the current
center at Meadowlands Drive.
Dinah Jeffries made history in 2016 when she became the first woman and the first woman of
color charged with leading the Emergency Services department. In 2020, Ms. Jeffries provided
invaluable leadership in guiding the County wide response to the COVID-19 Pandemic alongside
Health Director, Quintana Stewart. In addition to her service to Orange County, Dinah also made
significant contributions to her profession by serving as a board member to the North Carolina
911 Board and the NC Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communication Officials
(APCO) Executive Board. For 37 years, Dinah Jeffries has led with integrity, compassion,
professionalism and unwavering dedication to her communities and those she had been charged
to lead.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the
proclamation.
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SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: There is no Orange County Social Justice Goal impact associated
with consideration of the proclamation.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal
impact associated with consideration of the proclamation.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve and authorize the
Chair to sign the attached proclamation recognizing and expressing appreciation to Dinah Jeffries
for her service to the people of Orange County and wishing her well in her retirement.
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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING AND HONORING
DINAH L. JEFFRIES,
RETIRING DIRECTOR, ORANGE COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES
WHEREAS, in 1983, Ms. Jeffries embarked on a career of public service by joining the
Emergency Management Department as a full-time 9-1-1 Telecommunicator; and
WHEREAS, in 1988, Ms. Jeffries was promoted to serve as a Communications Shift
Leader, an Emergency Management Training Specialist in 1993, and the
Communications Operations Manager in 2007; and
WHEREAS, in 2016, Dinah Jeffries made history by becoming the first woman and first
woman of color to be charged with leading the Orange County Emergency Services
Department; and
WHEREAS throughout her distinguished career, Dinah has helped to advance the 9-1-1
system throughout Orange County with the implementation of advanced technologies and
national protocols for EMS, Fire, and Police dispatch; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Jeffries has served as a faithful advocate, representing both the Orange
County community and the State of North Caroling by serving on the North Carolina 911
Board and the North Carolina Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Officials (APCO)
Executive Board; and
WHEREAS, as Director, Ms. Jeffries provided invaluable mentorship, led the effort to
create the local Peer Support program for first responders, and exemplified steady
leadership in challenging times, including guiding the County's response to the 2020
COVID-19 Pandemic ; and
WHEREAS, Dinah's work in Orange County has ensured that the Emergency Services
Department is diverse and thriving and is capable of sustaining such for generations to
come; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Jeffries is retiring from Orange County on December 31, 2020, after 37
years in service to our communities, and will be missed;
NOW THEREFORE, we, the Orange County Board of Commissioners, do hereby
recognize and express deep appreciation and respect for the services rendered by Dinah
Jeffries to the Orange County community, and wish her well in her retirement.
This the 15t" day of December 2020.
Renee Price, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners