Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On January 14, 1979, Gloria Nieves began her career as a dispatcher with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. She worked at the Thousand Oaks East Valley police station from 1979 to 1983 where she was responsible for answering incoming telephone calls from the East Valley area. At that time, dispatchers working at the East Valley station were not responsible for working a radio console, as that was the responsibility of the dispatchers working in the Ventura office. However, Gloria was eager to learn the radio aspect of the position and quickly acquired the skills necessary to do so. This allowed her to work at either station, thereby reducing the amount of overtime worked by the dispatchers in Ventura.

Throughout Gloria’s 30-year career, she has experienced technological changes and advances within the 9-1-1 industry that a mere handful of 9-1-1 professionals have seen. For example, in 1983 the Sheriff’s Department implemented 9-1-1 and a computer aided dispatch (CAD) system when it merged its two communications centers and moved them to the Government Center in Ventura. Since then, Gloria has been on hand to witness two upgrades to the phone system, a replacement of the CAD system and an upgrade of the radio system.

Gloria has proven time and time again that she loves serving the public. This is evident by the numerous commendations she has received from her supervisors and patrol personnel throughout the years. Gloria has been selected as the Dispatcher of the Year three times by her peers and supervisors. She was also a nominee for the 2004 for the California Public Safety Radio Officials Association Team Performance Award.

Not only is Gloria a very dedicated and knowledgeable dispatcher, she also plays a significant role in the Sheriff’s Communications Center’s Christmas Holiday Boutique. The boutique is held every year to assist in the fund-raising efforts to help a less-fortunate “adopted” family during the holiday season. This year her coordination of the craft making made one family’s Christmas a Christmas to remember.

Gloria Nieves has one daughter and lives in Oxnard.