LeeComm: The Voices of Calm in Crisis

LEE COUNTY - In a small room, inside the Lee County Sheriff’s Office is a team of professionals sitting poised behind computer screens, headsets in place, fingers ready on the keyboard. They aren’t seen by the public, but they are heard—loud and clear—every time someone in Lee County dials 911. They are LeeComm, the emergency communications center serving the entire county, and this week, they’re being celebrated during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW) 2025.

Behind the Headsets at LeeComm
From Fort Madison to Keokuk, from Donnellson to the rural backroads, LeeComm dispatchers are the first point of contact in any emergency. In any given shift, they might field a call about a motor vehicle accident, walk someone through CPR, coordinate a pursuit, or provide calm, steady instructions during a house fire.
LeeComm telecommunicators dispatch for law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies throughout Lee County. They monitor multiple radio frequencies, manage mapping systems, and provide life-saving instructions all while keeping responders safe and informed.
Moments That Stay with You
The job can be emotionally exhausting. LeeComm dispatchers have heard it all—screams, silence, confusion, chaos—and yet they’re expected to stay calm, focused, and professional.

I still remember one of my first CPR calls.  It was an elderly male. I kept talking, kept giving directions, and the caller was able to get a pulse back before the ambulance arrived. I’ll never forget that.  These types of stories happen every day at LeeComm.
But it’s not just the tragedies that stay with us—it’s the small victories too: the “thank you”, the moments where their voice made the difference, the knowledge that they helped save a life.
This week, during NPSTW, Lee County is saying thank you in a big way. Local departments have stopped by the center with treats, cards, Facebook shoutouts, and kind words.
“We’re usually the voices behind the curtain,” says Amber Roberts, Deputy Director at LeeComm. “But this week reminds us that they’re not forgotten—that their work matters.”
The Heart of Public Safety
As emergency communications continue to evolve with technology like NextGen 911 and real-time location tracking, LeeComm remains at the cutting edge. But no matter how advanced the system becomes; one thing remains constant: the human voice that answers the call.
It’s not just a job, it’s a calling. We’re here for our community—24 hours a day, every single day of the year.
So, this week, if you pass by their building in Montrose or hear sirens in the distance, take a moment to think of the calm, steady voices inside. They may not wear badges, but they are every bit the heroes our community relies on.