Two Berrien County 911 dispatchers have been recognized for their efforts to keep the community safe.
At Thursday’s meeting of the Berrien County Board of Commissioners, the 2025 Telecommunicator of the Year was presented to Berrien County Dispatch supervisor Cassidie Pointer. Undersheriff Greg Sanders said Pointer is a 20-year veteran with the county. Her nomination highlights her life-saving actions in July of 2025, when she took a call about an electrocution at Pipestone Lake. At first, Pointer was told the victim was breathing, but that actually wasn’t the case.
“Through her experience in the medical dispatch system, she was able to determine that the individual was agonal breathing, which is not sufficient to sustain life,” Sanders said. “She quickly coached the two individuals there to begin performing CPR.”
Sanders said Pointer was calm and clear throughout the call.
“She coordinated with first responders, who responded and transported the individual to the hospital. We believe Cassidy is strongly responsible for saving that person’s life.”
Also honored as a nominee for Telecommunicator of the Year was Berrien County supervisor Kristina Burks, who trains others. Sanders said she’s dedicated to her job.
“This isn’t just a job to Chris. It’s her duty to make sure first responders are safe.”
Sanders said the county’s emergency dispatchers are “a critical link in the chain of survival.”
“I think the Berrien County community should be very thankful that we’ve got dedicated and passionate people like Chris and Cassidie.”
Both Pointer and Burks were nominated for the honor by their peers.
Photo (from left to right): Berrien County 911 Administrator Caitlin Sampsell, Award Recipient Berrien County Dispatch Supervisor Cassidie Pointer, Berrien County Undersheriff / 911 Advisory Board Chair Greg Sanders
