Death of a MI Dispatch Director

Ionia 9-1-1 Center Director Dies – 911 CARES Activation August 1, 2007
**Note from 911 CARES – Please take the time to send along a note to the Ionia Dispatchers, we have listed the address below. Those of you in Michigan, please help your fellow brothers and sisters by calling, e-mailing or dropping by with meals and hugs. We will send some 911 CARES cards and goodies to the Ionia team also.

Dear 911 CARES,

We are saddened to report that Ionia, Michigan 9-1-1 Director William Charon passed away on Monday evening of a massive heart attack. 

Our dispatchers that handled the call are doing as well as can be expected.  I am SO proud of the way they handled the call and I know Bill would be proud, too.  We are, of course in the first stage of grieving.  We are stunned and scared. 

Bill retired from Michigan State Patrol in 1997 at the rank of Captain. He came to work with us immediately following his retirement.  He was our leader, our mentor, our friend for the last ten years.  I don’t think we have begun to realize his impact in our daily lives and our professional lives yet.

He was a member of the Michigan Communication Directors Association, the Emergency Telephone Service Committee, the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority, the National Emergency Number Association, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, the Michigan Public Safety Communications System Advisory Board and the MSP Emergency Management & Homeland Security, Region 6.

Bill leaves a family of wife, Diane and 7 children.  As one of the sons said, “We are six sons and a princess.” 

Bills funeral is scheduled for Friday August 3rd at 11a at the Saranac High School in Saranac, MI.  The agency has asked that donations be made to 911 CARES in Bill’s name or to the family in lieu of flowers.

Kevin, thanks so much for getting the word out.

Contact info:

Vick L Denny
Supervisor for Dispatch Operations
Ionia County Central Dispatch
545 Appletree Dr
Ionia, MI  48846
(616) 527-0400
vdenny@ioniacounty.org

Kevin Willett
PSTC - Public Safety Training Consultants
www.pstc911.com   www.911cares.com
WK: 650-591-7911 x 102
FAX: 650-591-8911
PGR: 800-880-5277
E-mail: kevin@pstc911.com
PO Box 5508 - Redwood City, CA 94063