CHP - Public Safety Dispatcher - Meet a Dispatcher

PSD Angelia Baker

Angelia L. Baker has been a Dispatcher with the California Highway Patrol since August 1994. She was born in Los Angeles, California, and graduated from Downtown Business Magnet High School in 1986. After graduation, Angelia knew she wanted a career that would allow her to retire with great benefits; therefore she joined the United States Air Force. The Air Force was Angelia's first time away from home, so she was very grateful to be stationed at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, only six hours away from her family in Los Angeles. During her four years of Armed Services Click here to read full story.

PSD Christie Jones

As a child Christie Jones was raised at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, and then moved to Vacaville to attend middle and high school. She graduated from Will C. Wood High School in 1994 and pursued a career in the medical field. She worked as a medical assistant for over five years, then decided she wanted a more challenging career.
In 2000, Christie started her challenging career with the California Highway Patrol, working at the Golden Gate Communications Center in Vallejo. She enjoyed... Click here to read full story.

PSD Michelle Buresh

Nicky was raised in Kansas, Connecticut, Arizona, and California. Although she was not from a military family, the experience of going to several different schools definitely made her a diverse individual. When she graduated from Vacaville High School in 1990, Nicky did not have her sights on any one career objective. While taking college level courses in both journalism and accounting, she worked as a waitress. Being a waitress was something Nicky really enjoyed because Click here to read full story.

PSDSI Rhonda Fitzgerald

Rhonda's career as a Public Safety Dispatcher for the CHP started later in life, and in an unusual way. While driving to work at her job at a telecommunications company she witnessed a car accident at a 4-way intersection. She pulled over and while calling 911 on her cell phone assessed all the parties in the vehicles to make sure no one was seriously injured. Everyone was fine until she came to the last car that caused the accident and found an elderly gentleman visibly shaken from the accident.
She waited with him until Click here to read full story.

Public Safety Operator Sheila Kanne

Sheila was born and raised in San Francisco, and graduated from San Francisco City College. When she moved her family from San Francisco to Solano County, she decided to find a job closer to her new home.

A neighbor told her about the CHP Dispatch Center in Vallejo, so she checked it out and thought she would be a good match. After attending the Clark Training Center in Riverside for Phase I Training, She returned to... Click here to read full story.

Public Safety Dispatcher Rick Rocha

Public Safety Dispatcher Rick Rocha was born and raised in San Francisco, California. He graduated from Riordan High School, then attended City College of San Francisco and later Napa College. While attending Napa College, he enrolled in criminal justice classes and thought of working in law enforcement as an officer.
Rick comes from a family that has been dedicated to service for the CHP. His sister's husband (now retired) worked as a CHP officer in San Francisco. His older brother has also been a CHP Officer for over 27 years. By 1992, for personal reasons, he realized... Click here to read full story.

Public Safety Dispatcher Terry Mason

Terry Mason has been employed with the California Highway Patrol for 24 years. Originally she worked in our smaller communications centers for many years and she remembers when the dispatchers were able to work hand in hand with the Officers and interact with them on a daily basis. The family atmosphere in the area office was both gratifying and rewarding.
Over the years, Terry has had her share of stressful incidents. In 1989, while working in Oakland, what started as a muggy, calm, fall day, turned into a disaster when the ground started to shake. Yes, it was the Loma Prieta earthquake. Click here to read full story.