(Photo credit: Jefferson County SO FB page)
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office 911 Operator Grace Cole has been named the 2025 ISA Telecommunicator of the Year. The award was presented Monday night at the Illinois Sheriff’s Association Winter Conference Banquet in Springfield, where Cole also received the 2025 Sheriff’s Office Telecommunicator of the Year Award.
Sheriff Jeff Bullard credited Cole’s exceptional work during the Finney murder investigation, saying her quick and effective handling of 911 communications led to the rapid apprehension of the suspect and recovery of the victim. Bullard noted this is the sixth time in seven years a sheriff’s office employee has been honored by a state organization for outstanding service.