TORRINGTON – On Monday, the Torrington Police Department (TPD) announced the retirement of a community pillar and department communications officer, Tammy Cerns. The department will host an open house in honor of Cerns Friday, January 10, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Conestoga Room at the Lincoln Community Complex, in Torrington. 

Cerns has been a fixture in the department for nearly 23 years, serving the citizens of Goshen County during possibly what a person would consider their worst moments of life. Severing as a communications officer, Cerns has answered calls regarding car accidents, medical emergencies, prison escapees, break-ins, drownings and so much more. She became the calm, reassuring voice behind a frantic 911 emergency for hours on end which residents in Goshen County relied on for guidance, life-saving steps but more importantly, Cerns became a person, Goshen County could count on.   

“Tammy began her career with the TPD in 2002 as a communication officer, a role she worked through 2014 when she began her time as the code enforcement officer,” TPD explained. “Tammy had recently moved back into a supporting role in the department helping out in the communications center and helping organize and update our evidence room and procedures, which was no easy task.”

Although Cerns has made an impact on her department, coworkers and community members, she notably stated, “It’s time.” 

“I’m going to take some time to myself and I’m going enjoy my grandkids and then I’ll probably just go find me a part-time job to keep myself busy,” Cerns said with a chuckle. “I mean, I’m not going go to another full-time job. I’m just, everybody told me you’ll know when it’s time and it’s time.”

“When I started, I worked the relief shift. So, I worked one day shift. The next two days were graveyard and then the next two days were swing shifts,” Cerns explained. “I didn’t mind it because I had a lot of family time. I worked that shift for two years and then they did away with it.”

During Cerns’ nearly quarter century of service with the department, she has had many duties, including the training and prepping of the new communications officers who walked through the door.

“I trained lots of people. It’s exciting to train them and to see them succeed,” Cerns said. “I looked today, between officers and dispatchers from the time I started that have come and gone is 70 plus. The only one that’s still here that was here when I started is Teri [Shinost]. Teri trained me.”

There have been memories made but one of the best parts of Cerns’ job has been the connections she has made and kept deep within the community. 

“When I first started in code enforcement, I made a lot of connections in the community. I had one elderly gal that didn’t have any family and her yard was, it was horrible. I got together with my husband who also works for the city and we called a friend that has a skit loader. We got a few of the employees that he works with and we went over and cleaned up her yard,” Cerns recalled. “So, and it was a job.”

“I had a couple of people when I was dispatching when I first started. They of course had scanners back then. So, the one told me, she’s like, I don’t ever call for help unless I know you’re working and I’m like, you can’t do that,” Cerns said with a chuckle. “Because I don’t work all the time. Then one little lady, she would wait until she would hear me on the radio and then she would call me and want to visit. It was fun. I’ve helped a lot of people.”

Of course, not every call Cerns has taken over the years was to catch up with elderly residents. Cerns faced a 911 dispatcher’s worst fear when the call coming in involved a loved one. 

“[I] worked here for 22 years. [I] never took a single 911 call from my family and I finally took one and that was not fun. She was alive, but barely. She passed away a couple weeks later,” Cerns recalled. “Her brother’s the one that called in. So, I just did it. I took the 911 call. I got everybody there. I didn’t tell him who I was. [I] didn’t tell him it was me because I’m sure that would have turned into a blubber fest.”

Cerns noted although she has made some great connections with coworkers and community members alike, she is excited to chase her grandkids and enjoy retirement.

“It’s been fun. I’ve enjoyed it. I made lots of good friends here. I’m sad to go, but I’m happy to go at the same time,” Cerns said. “It’s like one big family. So, when you leave your family to come to work, you still have a family.”

Cerns voice won’t be the only thing missing in the department. Down the hall, circuit court clerk Debbie Curry will miss Cerns’ friendship most of all.

“When I first became the court clerk, we always talked about having an assistant come in here, and we never did,” Curry said. “They had one of the gals at city hall come and help, but then she couldn’t come. If I would ever call her [Tammy], if I was sick, had family issues or whatever, Tammy would come in and she would do court. I’d usually have it ready, but she’d sit in the courtroom, and she would do all of the things that needs to be done. she’s my right-hand man, so I’m very sad. She’s not only a really good friend, but she’s really helped me out in a lot of situations.”

Curry further explained, Cerns was one a person could count on and equally as important, Cerns knew how to do her job and she did it well.

“She’s not only a dispatcher, which she’s the best dispatcher there is. I have been in there many times when there’s 911 calls on deaths, on wrecks, on fires, on whatever. They’re going very well miss her there because she knows her stuff,” Curry said, tearfully. “She’s done code enforcement, which is a very hard job because she’s had to go out there and get all people on the right track. They don’t do it, then she comes to court.”

According to Curry, Cerns, like her father, the late TPD Lieutenant Harley Marks, will leave an everlasting impression on the department and the community they have served. 

“Her dad was quite the deal,” Curry said glancing at Cerns. “Life is short. She’s given a lot to this department. Lots to this department.”

The position of a communications officer is often stressful and demanding, however according to Curry, Cerns, regardless of the pressure, remained constant and calm even during the most difficult and intense moments. Cerns will be missed throughout the department.

“I was in dispatch training Tammy. I’ve loved working with Tammy over the years. Obviously, we became really close and people grow apart a little bit,” Shinost said. “I’m going to miss her.”

“I have enjoyed getting to know Tammy and have had the opportunity to work with her over the past four and one-half years,” TPD Chief Matt Johnson said. “During most of that time, Tammy served as our code enforcement officer, which is a very difficult role that frequently involves a lot of conflict. Tammy handled the challenges of the job well and managed to find ways to bring human-kindness and compassion to the position by regularly helping folks who were in tough circumstances find solutions to get their property up to standard,” Johnson concluded. 

“It’s a very rewarding career. Dispatch is a very thankless job because when people thank people for coming and saving their lives, dispatches never mentioned. But we all know that we’re the reason that the help got there,” Cerns said. “I think everybody’s pretty content knowing that you’re not going get the big pat on the backs and the thank yous from the community. The businesses are really supportive. I mean, even the community members,” Cerns explained. It’s pretty awesome. I’ve enjoyed working here.”