Georgia Dispatcher Critically Injured in Hunting Accident

911 CARES,

My name is Chris Acosta, I'm a supervisor at Heard County 911 in Frankln, GA.

Last Friday, one of our dispatcher's, Dedria Brown, was severely injured in a hunting accident, accidentally discharging her rifle into her abdomen when it struck the ground. She is one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet and we are beyond shocked and in disbelief that something could happen to one of our own even though we know the possibility is always there.

Dedria is a very dedicated employee of our department and has been so for 15 years. She was selected by the GA chapter of APCO as Communication's Officer of the Year several years ago for her roll in preventing a carjacker from Ala in possibly killing one of our deputies. The deputy discovered a vehicle at a store on the Alabama line early one morning and tried to run the tag but GCIC was down. Dedria didn't let that stop her from calling Alabama and asking questions about this vehicle for the officer's safety and discovered it had been car jacked at gun point earlier in the evening. Dedria warned the officer of the situation so he was prepared to confront an armed, wanted person who did exit the vehicle firing at our officer. Our officer was struck in the chest but was wearing a vest and the gun man died at the scene.

Now Dedria is the one that is fighting the fight to make it back. She's in Atlanta Medical Center, she's had two surgeries and is expected to recover but it's going to be a long road back for her.

Please ask the 911 community to keep her and her family in their prayers that she's back with us soon, sharing her beautiful smile and disposition that keeps us all in good spirits.

Thank you
Chris Acosta