Remembering a standout citizen: Christina Magalhaes

By Mandy Walton

Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008 | 11:01 a.m.

Many people are unaware of just who is behind the calming voice on the other end of the phone when you call about an emergency. The police, fire, and medical dispatchers at the City of Henderson are second to none. When you call 911, they’re the ones who answer your call, calm your nerves, and instruct you in life-saving procedures.

While all of Henderson’s dispatchers are dedicated and professional, today I’d like to tell you about one who was exceptional, motivated, and dedicated to serving the community of Henderson.

Christina Magalhaes was a dispatch supervisor who worked tirelessly at the City of Henderson Police Department since she started in 2000. This June, after a sudden illness, Christina passed away after only two days in the hospital. The culprit: leukemia, which she wasn’t even aware of. Now, while her coworkers are forced to go on with life in the communications center without her, the citizens of Henderson are also missing out on someone they never even knew. Christina worked day in and day out to serve this community and she has left behind a legacy of excellence that is an example to all public servants.

Christina worked to perfect dispatch protocols and policies to ensure safer situations for police officers and firefighters. Trainings, committees, and meetings constantly filled her schedule – she knew the more knowledge she had, the more she could contribute to the quality of the operation.

“Christina had a passion for officer-safety and was always trying to keep dispatch informed of how police and fire operated on the street, so we could be better at our job,” said Kaulana Flatt, a longtime co-worker and friend.

If her work and dedication weren’t enough to show that she valued the community she served, Christina still went the extra mile. This was an example to her co-workers.

“She was a working supervisor and hated to hear the phones ring so much that she would often answer a line herself so a citizen would get a ‘live’ person as quickly as possible,” Flatt said. “Even the non-emergency lines.”

While she not only applied herself professionally to the organization, Christina did everything she could to boost morale among those she worked with.

“She was the cheerleader and if someone was celebrating something, Christina was organizing it. She probably hosted everyone's baby shower, bridal shower and bachelorette party. Your happiness was her happiness,” Flatt said.

This also included coming up with a scavenger hunt for the dispatchers in celebration of National Telecommunicator’s Week in April of this year. The different shifts teamed up against each other to complete a fun and zany hunt.

“People worked together as teams and the whole thing has really built up the squads,” said Christina, quoted in an article called ‘Let the Good Times Roll’ in the May/June issue of The Journal, the national publication of the National Academy of Emergency Dispatch.

The teamwork and camaraderie that took place during the scavenger hunt was special to Christina.

Today would have been Christina’s 35th birthday, and because of that, I wrote this entry in honor of her. And while I could write pages more, no words could ever define or tell the complete story of the wonderful person and dedicated professional she was. The accomplishments and achievements in Christina’s life were many. Henderson is better because of her. Her family and friends will continue to miss her dearly, always.