​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, Angelia served as an Air Traffic Controller; where she endured Desert Shield and Desert ​Storm. Homesickness proved to be

a deciding factor on why she did not re-enlist, and after her tour of duty she returned to Southern California.

Newly discharged from the Air Force, she was looking for employment and a friend told her the California Highway Patrol was hiring for dispatchers. She submitted her application.

Upon being hired, she spent the first ten years of her CHP career in Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Communications Center, and it was wonderful. In 2004, she transferred to the Golden Gate Communications Center. Angelia really enjoyed the fact that there was an alternative work week, overtime and great benefits.

It was an easy adjustment for her because she was comfortable being in a structured work environment, utilizing similar codes and language she had used in the Air Force as an Air Traffic Controller. Additionally, it was great that she was able to apply her military experience to a new career as a California Highway Patrol, Public Safety Dispatcher.

​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 GGCC as a Public Safety Operator. She continues to enjoy the position and take pride in working for CHP Dispatch.

Over the past eight-plus years, she has handled a wide variety of calls. No two days are alike. Some calls are very easy, such as non-injury accidents, and other calls can leave a lasting effect when someone is hurt or a victim of a violent crime. Sheila says on tough days, she simply goes home and hugs her family.

For the past few years Sheila has assisted on the GGCC Training Team, assisting new employees in Phase I Training. She thoroughly enjoys training and thinks it is wonderful feeling to see the newly hired trainee's progress and become Public Safety Operators and Public Safety Dispatchers.

​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 that he did not want to become an officer. His brother suggested applying for CHP Dispatcher.

Rick has now been a Public Safety Dispatcher for 16 1/2 years. He enjoys both answering 9-1-1 calls and dispatching CHP Officers. Given his background he believes officer safety is the most important thing a dispatcher needs to be aware of. He has won a few dispatcher awards; six times Freeway Service Patrol

Dispatcher of the Year and one Employee of the Year. Rick has, on occasion, been Public Safety Dispatcher in Charge.

Rick stills lives in Santa Rosa and during his time off enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters.

​Amber was born in Alameda County, California to a family already dominated by men wearing badges; Military Police, City Police, Correctional Officers, and Sheriff Deputies- it seemed as though she was the next generation destined for a career in Law Enforcement!

She started her career as a Public Safety Dispatcher (PSD) for the police department in her hometown- a small department comprised of fifteen police officers and five dispatchers. It was here that she learned what it meant to multi-task; answering and dispatching 9-1-1 emergency and non emergency calls, operating two way radios for her department and allied agencies, assisting citizens at the front counter, and handling all the "to-be-processed" reports as a solo dispatcher.

Fast forward five years, she applied for a position with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) as a PSD at the Redding CHP Communications Center. After an extensive background process, she was hired. Leaving behind the comfort of the family she made at the Police Department was extremely difficult, but the open-arms welcome she received from the CHP communications center helped immensely to ease the transition.

"The decision to become a PSD is by far one of the best decisions that I have made. I have built a foundation of adopted family that I know I can count on through thick and thin, and my previous employment in law enforcement has helped me excel within CHP. Having the experience with criminal reports, a general understanding of penal codes, and how allied agencies work outside of this department has made my job easier and more comprehensive."

My transition to CHP was motivated by my love of the job, and the desire to fulfill this calling for the rest of my career. CHP has given me the opportunity to do what I love, with the possibility to relocate anywhere in the state with a simpler transfer process. CHP has also given me the freedom to be secure and comfortable with building my retirement. I am grateful every day for those who helped to get my career started and I look forward to a very satisfying and rewarding future with the CHP family!