ELLSWORTH – Pierce County 911 dispatcher and Jailer Sgt. Sandy Larson is retiring after 36 years with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department; her official last day is Aug. 4.

Larson started dispatch and working in the original jail when the two operations, dispatch and jail duties, were in the same building location adjacent to the courthouse. She would do both jobs during her shifts and the days would consist of many responsibilities and long hours.

After the new sheriff’s department/jail opened on Overlook Drive and the dispatch and jail split, she decided to continue with

Photo by Melissa Thorud SUNSET FOR SANDY

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just being a Jailer Sergeant, where she was responsible for looking after and taking care of the inmates at the county jail.

It is common for dispatch centers and county jails to be separate now more than it used to be. The tasks and responsibilities have become more attention reliant; after Larson moved to the county jail, she was responsible for many of the inmates daily.

“I would check on them every hour, deliver trays, moving them from program to program, searching them, booking them. There is always something happening,” Larson said.

Larson grew up seven miles south of Ellsworth and has always lived in the area. She said she has no plans of leaving any time soon.

“My roots are in the county, and I have no intention of moving at this time,” Larson said.

In 1983 she became a dispatcher and worked part-time for two years before joining full-time in 1985. She said she started the job because she used to listen to police scanners.

“I used to have a scanner before I started and I would listen to it all the time and I loved it and one time I heard a call go out and the dispatchers totally gave the wrong directions at the time and I thought ‘oh you sent them around the long way, you need to send them the short way.’ So when an opening came, I asked someone if they needed a part-timer and then I became full-time two years later,” she said.

Being a 911 dispatcher can affect one’s mental health and has been shown to cause some trauma on those who hold these positions. However, Larson said she was never really affected by the more mentally taxing aspects of this job.

“I don’t think in that aspect it really affected me and for sure some people it would, but I liked my work,” she said. “I really loved it and I loved dispatching.”

There were many years of dispatch calls but none that really stood out to Larson as being memorable. After answering calls for so many years, she lost track.

“I’m sure there were a lot of funny calls, but I can’t recall off hand.” she said. “But after that many years I realized I should’ve been writing this stuff down because I could’ve written a book by now, I’m sure.”

Larson said that some of her best memories surround the people with whom she worked.

“The people you work with, you work as a team, and you really rely on one another. There is no I in team and that is the way it should be,” Larson said. “We all make decisions together and it was really a group effort. There is a lot of bonding and you get close to one another and know each other really well.”

She also remembers the many changes and learning curves presented during the 36 years in her position.

“I remember when we would book people in with pen and paper, then it went to typewriter and then computer. It’s crazy to look back on how much has changed; the number of computer programs we had to go through was the biggest change,” she said jokingly.

Larson left quite an impact on the people with whom she worked. Pierce County Sheriff Nancy Hove said, “She’s been a long-term employee of 36 years, put all her time and effort into our dispatch and jail centers throughout her years here. We all wish her the best of luck in her retirement and I hope she enjoys her retirement and has a great time with her horses and her husband. I really appreciate her and all of her service and she’ll be missed.”

Jon Aubart, recent retiree from River Falls Police Department and Pierce County Board supervisor, started around the same time that Larson began working at the Sheriff’s Department.

“I just retired in May,” Aubart said. “I was there 33 years and she was there the day I started. She was absolutely wonderful helping me get started and learning the radios and booking people in the jails. Sandy is very professional, no nonsense but extremely helpful to me.”

Aubart also recalled some memories of his time working with Larson.

“I always would have goofy requests and she would dig the information out for me, or she would know before you even asked,” Aubart said. “She would anticipate what you needed and would give the information before you even knew what you needed.”

After working together for many years Aubart wishes Larson the best.

“She’s going to be missed certainly but I’m very happy for her and hopefully she has a very wonderful and long retirement ahead of her. She deserves this and she has earned it that’s for sure,” he said.

Larson has no intention of “taking a break” during retirement, as she has many animals, acres of land and a home to take care of. She has been on vacation the past few weeks and says that pre-retirement life is very different compared to her usual daily routine.

“I’m busy all the time now. I have chickens, goats, horses, gardens and things that I have to take care of and projects I have been wanting to do for a long time. I like the change. It is very different for me and it’s almost like I don’t know what day it is anymore,” Larson said. “Everything revolved around my work schedule, and I wasn’t able to get some of these projects done.”

Many people Larson has worked with all hoped that one day she would use her designated parking spot labeled “Sandy’s Parking,” a hitching post located behind the Sheriff’s Department built by Chief Deputy Steve Albarado.

Larson said, “They said I should use my hitching post ‘Sandy’s parking’ behind the jail down in the tall weeds, but I never have.”

In honor of her retirement, Larson decided to use it at least once.

Photo by Melissa Thorud

Pierce County Jailer Sgt. Sandy Larson riding her horse down the trails away from the sheriff’s office as she heads off into retirement.