Ohio County 911 Central Dispatch

04/23/2026

Last Week, The Ohio County 911 Central Dispatch celebrated our annual tele-week. It was a particular rough week for the team here but we rallied as we always do and I am so proud of each and everyone of them. We want to give a special thanks to everyone that made last week so special:

Ohio County EMS- Goodie basket
Officer Jason Davis- Taco bell (not pictured- was ate too fast)
Rebecca Kempton- Taco Bowls
Sarah Salyer- White Chicken Chili
Jessica Cox- Subway
Sgt Jacob Phelps- Doughnuts
Cash Express- Cupcakes
River Ward- Care baskets
Air Evac- For the T-shirts and Goodie Basket
PHI- For the Goodie Bags
Susan Stewart- Cupcakes, Cookies, Muffins, Skittles
Deputy Paige Smith- Chick Fil A Dinner
Sheriff Adam Wright (and Ally and Elbie!)- Gift Cards
Fordsville Fire Department-Gift Cards

The kind words, encouragement and thanks meant the world to us. If I missed anyone please let me know and I will be happy to put it in this post, as we had so many people showing us appreciation. We would never want to skip out on thanking anyone! We appreciate each and every person that made us feel special. Thank you all to a wonderful community! It is an honor to dispatch for this county.

04/12/2026

This week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Appreciation Week. I just want to take a moment to thank all dispatchers past and present and to send a very special shout-out to all my dispatchers here at Ohio County 911. They consistently go above and beyond the call of duty for their agency and their community. They are there for people on the worst day of their lives, and hear things they will never be able to unhear, yet they show up every single day. I appreciate them not only this week but every day. If you see a dispatcher out and about this week thank them for their service or come see us and talk to us and ask questions! We are proud to serve our community!

Thank you Ohio County Dispatchers!!!
-Kathy Davis

11/28/2025

Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We are thankful and blessed to serve such a wonderful community!

11/28/2025

Ohio County Central Dispatch extends a heartfelt “Thank You” to the East Hartford Baptist Church for providing the dispatchers and the deputies a Thanksgiving Dinner. We are so thankful you thought of us!

11/11/2025

The Ohio County 911 Dispatch would like to thank and honor our veterans for their service to our country. We are honored to have a veteran as part of our dispatch agency. Dispatcher Tim Lear, who served in the U.S. Air Force, thank you for your service!

10/26/2025

We are still experiencing some issues with dropped calls, please call 270-298-4411 to get to dispatch's direct line.

07/16/2025

Congratulations River!!

The Ohio County Sheriffs Office would like to send a huge Congratulations to River Ward for graduating from the Department of Criminal Justice Training Public Safety Dispatch Academy. River was part of PSDA Class 166. Over the past 4 weeks River has completed 160 hours worth of training including radio room calls, Emergency Medical Dispatching, T-CPR, NCIC training and much much more. Congratulations! We are happy to have you back home!

07/04/2025

Thank you Ohio County 4H for dropping off some yummy food for the dispatchers!!!!

06/06/2025

Ohio County 911 Administrative lines are currently down, if the line is able to get through we are experiencing numerous dropped calls. 911 lines are still operational at this time, a technician is in route.

05/19/2025

Rest in Peace to a true hero...He was also Whitley County E-911's Assistant Director. We thank him for his service and are sending prayers to a fellow Kentucky agency...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Line of Duty Death Confirmed: Major Leslie Leatherman, Laurel County Fire Department

Laurel County, KY – The Laurel County Fire Department cofirms the tragic line of duty death of Major Leslie Leatherman during response efforts late Friday night, following a series of severe weather alerts and emergency dispatches in the region. Flags lowered in honor of Major Leslie Leatherman at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial.

At approximately 11:07 PM, a tornado was confirmed on the ground in Somerset, Kentucky. The National Weather Service issued several warnings for surrounding areas, including Laurel County.

At 11:47 PM, a fire alarm was reported at 582 Sunshine Hills Road. Major Leslie Leatherman responded to the scene from his home and confirmed via the department’s private radio channel that he was en route. At 11:48 PM, a call for a trapped person at 291 Hart Church Road was received. Just one minute later, at 11:49 PM, a structural collapse was reported at 382 Sunshine Hills Road, indicating widespread damage in the Sunshine Hills community.

Lieutenant James Spicer contacted Laurel County 911 via radio and reported a tornado on the ground in the area, noting major damage and requesting that all county fire departments be paged for response.

Upon arrival, emergency responders discovered two individuals in a field across from Boone Trace on Sunshine Hills Road. A unidentified conscious female was calling for help and a male was found lying on top of her, unresponsive. Responders removed the male and treated the female, who was transported to the hospital by EMS. The male was confirmed deceased and his location was recorded for later identification and coroner response.

Between midnight and 12:30 AM, attempts to reach Major Leatherman by radio were unsuccessful. A search effort was launched. During this time, responders revisited the earlier field fatality. Lieutenant James Spicer and Deputy Chief Jared Kennedy returned to confirm the identity of the deceased male. It was then determined to be Major Leslie Leatherman. The coroner was notified and responded to the scene for recovery and documentation.

It appears that Major Leatherman was responding to the initial fire alarm when the tornado struck. Upon encountering the injured female, he used his body to shield her from further harm. He was fatally injured in the process. The female was later identified as his wife, Michelle Leatherman who was critically injured It is unknown if Major Leatherman was aware of her identity at the time due to the extreme darkness, noise, and traumatic events

Major Leatherman’s selfless actions exemplify the highest ideals of public service and sacrifice. His commitment to duty and protection of others, even under the most dangerous conditions, will never be forgotten. The Laurel County Fire Department honors his legacy and mourns the loss of a brother, leader, and hero.

Services are pending arrangements by family members. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers in the coming weeks and months.

05/17/2025