By Roger Lanse

The Grant County Regional Dispatch Authority received official certification in November 2017, as an "Emergency Medical Dispatch Center" by the New Mexico Department of Health, according to GCRDA Director Barbara Schalkofski. All dispatchers are now certified, as well, Schalkofski said, by the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy, as recently hired Sonia Ray and Emmanie Villanueva completed telecommunicator certification classes in December 2017.

Schalkofski stated that Ray was named class leader and received an award for her achievement, and that GCRDA is one of a few in the state to have both the dispatch center and all its dispatchers certified.