OWENSBORO, Ky. — Saundra Arison knows her way around Hancock County law enforcement. For more than 20 years she has worked for the county, first as an emergency medical technician, then as a Hancock County Sheriff s Department road deputy and Hancock County dispatcher.
After retiring from the sheriff s department three years ago, Arison is returning to Hancock County as 911 director.
I like challenges, said Arison, who was the first female road deputy in Hancock County. I like people. I think we ll get along just fine.
Arison s responsibilities include working with the county s 911 board, scheduling dispatchers and training part-time dispatchers. She will also make sure other training has been completed and certifications are up to date.
Arison is the county s first 911 director.
We ve got more and more paperwork, more procedures, said Terry Greathouse, director of Hancock County Emergency Management Agency. Those things have gotten to the extent where we just feel comfortable with having another person instead of myself over those areas.
The EMA director s position can get stretched thin, he said.
I think she ll be great, Greathouse said. She s sincere about what s she s doing. I don t think she ll have any problems.
Arison said the county has good dispatchers, and her goal is to make them secure in their job as far as safety of the building is concerned.
They will also work to improve on what they already have, she said.
We do have professional dispatchers now, Arison said.
They have four full-time dispatchers and several part-time dispatchers. More part-time dispatchers are being trained, and Arison can also fill in as a dispatcher when needed.
Hancock Fiscal Court unanimously approved her hiring at Monday s Fiscal Court meeting. She starts with a 90-day probation period.
She s got a big job ahead of her, but I think she s up for the challenge, Judge-Executive Jack McCaslin told the court.
Magistrate Larry Sosh said after the vote that he thought the court was doing a good job by hiring Arison.
Arison worked under three sheriffs, including Dale Bozarth.
I believe she ll do well, he said.
