KNOX COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — First responders everywhere save lives every day, but how often are we thanking them?
Vincennes resident Paul Thompson has served here in Knox County as a dispatcher for over forty years. During that time, he has also served with the Vincennes Township Fire Department, as a deputy coroner, and he is a former EMT. Now, he is being recognized as the 2025 first responder of the year.
Thompson said his decades of community service have trained him for his current role, supervisor and lead dispatcher in Knox County.
“I’ve had a lot of years doing this”, Thompson said. “I’ve had a lot of years dispatching, lot of years working out in the field as an EMT and a volunteer firefighter. I think I’ve taken all that experience and just tried to put it into the dispatch role.”
Recently, Thompson answered a call from a resident in the midst of a mental health crisis.
“I was trying to put myself in his shoes and see what he was feeling”, Thompson said. “I just tried to talk to him just like I would be talking to you.”
The caller was driving at the time. Thompson stayed on the line with him for more than 25 minutes until help arrived.
“Everything worked out great”, Thompson said. “The officers were able to catch up with him and stop him. They assisted that way and went further with him getting help.”
Thompson hopes this award will bring more attention for first responders everywhere.
“In being individually recognized, I think it brings recognition, not only to my colleagues and people that I work with, but also our organization as Knox County Central Dispatch”, Thompson said. “It shows our division in the county government and first responders in general.”
The first responder of the year award is given out each year by Heaps and Jeeps in Vincennes. They hosted a multi-day festival earlier this month, including a ceremony to honor 2025 winner Paul Thompson.
