DATE: Sunday, May 4, 1997                   TAG: 9705020162

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: CLOSE-UP 

SOURCE: Deborah Markham 
                                            LENGTH:   92 lines

MARILYN WILLIAMS WINNER OF DISPATCHER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Marilyn Williams, Portsmouth's Dispatcher of the Year, has stayed on the phone with a scared baby sitter who was stuck in an upstairs bedroom during a break-in on the first floor. She has returned a frantic 911 call to reassure a victim that help was on the way, and she has talked a man out of committing suicide.

``I'd like to think that something I said made the difference,'' Williams said.

Williams likes to know that the calls ended well. She says she does everything she can - including mentally putting herself in the shoes of the officer on duty.

In a letter nominating Williams for the Dispatcher of the Year Award, Capt. A.M. Holmes praised Williams for taking ``the extra steps to ensure their safety.''

Capt. Holmes also describes Williams as having a can-do attitude: ``She never asks `Why?' when something has to be done, she asks, `Why can't we get this done?' and then sets out to do it.''

Williams doesn't think she won the Dispatcher of the Year Award on her own.

``I'm excited about receiving the award,'' said Williams, ``but I'm not the only one to get this award. The platoon (the team of dispatchers she works with) helped me.''

In a little more than three years, Williams has moved up to the position of senior dispatcher. She became a regional academy instructor at the Hampton Roads Academy of Criminal Justice in Hampton.

When Williams first gave on-the-job training to dispatchers in Portsmouth, several critical lesson plans needed updating. So she did the work herself, in addition to her other duties, which included covering for a shortage of dispatchers during the midnight shift.

On top of instructing future dispatchers and handling 911 calls, Williams often volunteer for special projects.

``It seems that whenever they ask for volunteers, my hand somehow always goes up,'' she said.

During this past Christmas season, Williams, who has served as a foster parent in the past, proposed that her department adopt a foster family.

In addition to participating in bake sales and a food drive to raise money for food baskets for other needy families, Williams helped increase the number of foster families helped by the department from one to three.

When Williams has time for fun, she likes to go deep-sea fishing with her husband, Ricky Williams.

An avid NASCAR fan, Williams loves to go to a race when she gets the chance. Her favorite driver is Ricky Rudd, a Chesapeake native.

She is quick to point out that the fact that Rudd's home is in Chesapeake wasn't a factor in choosing him as her favorite.

``I was a fan of his before I ever found out where he lives,'' she said.

Full Name: Marilyn Williams.

Neighborhood: I live just past the Portsmouth line in Deep Creek.

Number of Years in Portsmouth: I lived for 20 years in Portsmouth. I grew up here.

Birthdate: Dec. 18.

Birthplace: Suffolk.

Occupation: Communications (senior) dispatcher II.

Marital Status: Married to Ricky Williams.

Children: I don't have any children, but I do have two Great Danes, Summer, a female, and Jughead, a male. Jughead's real name is Newton, but we call him ``Jughead'' because his head is shaped like a jug.

What job (other than your own) would you like to have? I wouldn't mind being a police detective.

Fondest childhood memory: Going fishing with Dad.

First concert: Molly Hatchet at Lawrence Stadium.

If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would buy? Buy my husband a boat.

If you could trade places with anyone, who would it be? I wouldn't want to trade places with anyone.

Most embarrassing moment: When my dog knocked me down in the mud at a NASCAR party.

Biggest accomplishment: My advancement in my job.

If you could change anything about yourself, what would it be? I would think more before I speak.

Perfect way to spend the day: At a NASCAR race.

I just can't resist: Chocolate.

Favorite Portsmouth Restaurant: The Circle.

Favorite Portsmouth hangout: The Portsmouth Police Department. I enjoy talking to the guys and finding out what happened during their shifts.

Biggest problem facing Portsmouth: Drugs and domestic violence.

If you had three wishes for Portsmouth, what would they be?

1. All the drugs would disappear.

2. No gangs.

3. Vision 2005 actually succeeds.

What do you like best about Portsmouth: The Seawall and the ferry. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by RICHARD L. DUNSTON

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