Excelsior Springs, Mo. — After nearly four decades as a vital link between first responders and the community, Carol Hunter has retired from her role as a communications officer with the Excelsior Springs Police Department. Friends, family, and colleagues—including police officers and firefighters past and present—gathered Friday, Feb. 28, at the police department to celebrate her career and unwavering dedication to public safety.
Hunter began her career in 1985, when the police station was still housed in the historic Carnegie Library building on Broadway. At the time, the department’s communication system was rudimentary compared to today’s standards, relying on a push-button 911 phone connected to a cassette recorder and just four radio channels. Dispatchers operated with minimal computerization, relying on handwritten logs and time clocks to track calls and officer movements.
Working independently, Hunter managed multiple sources of input at once: radio traffic for both police and fire departments, walk-in visitors, and a constant influx of phone calls. Often, all three would come at once, but Hunter’s calm and focused approach allowed her to handle the stress and keep everything running smoothly.
“Carol’s ability to multitask was not just an asset—it was a necessity,” said retired Police Chief John McGovern. “She also went through the biggest transition when we hired her, and no police officer could have handled the changes like she did.”
As technology advanced, so did the communications center. Over the years, the department invested in state-of-the-art equipment, transforming the facility into the sophisticated operation it is today. Through these changes, Hunter continually adapted, maintaining the invaluable skills that made her an indispensable part of the department.
Her exceptional work ethic and ability to stay composed under pressure eventually led to her promotion to Communications Supervisor. In this leadership role, she provided guidance and training to new officers, ensuring the center ran smoothly even during the most challenging shifts.
“Carol helped lay the foundation for the efficient, modern center we have today,” McGovern said. “She’s been the rock of our communications center for decades. Her retirement is a huge loss—not just for her professional expertise, but for the institutional knowledge she leaves behind.”
The role of a dispatcher is often high-stress, requiring quick thinking and composure under pressure. Hunter was no exception, working through some of the most challenging emergencies, including child fatalities and life-threatening situations.
“Anytime a child dies, those are the hardest calls,” Hunter said thinking about some of her most demanding shifts. “When a family loses a child—those are really hard. You don’t forget them.”
Despite the difficulties, Hunter was known for her professionalism and the close bonds she created with her coworkers. She, former officers Danny Hager, and Jeff Kimsey started in 1985 jokingly referred to themselves as the “Class of ‘85,” even making T-shirts to mark their shared years of service.
Though stepping away from full-time work, Hunter plans to remain involved by filling in part-time when needed. She also looks forward to traveling and spending more time with family.
Her departure leaves a lasting impact on the department. “We had some rough years,” McGovern said. “There were times we didn’t have enough help on patrol or in dispatch. But when the job had to get done, Carol was always there. She handled everything so smoothly.”
Hunter’s legacy remains in the strong, modernized dispatch center she helped shape. As Excelsior Springs moves forward, her dedication and leadership will continue to be felt in the community she served for nearly 40 years.
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