Murfreesboro, TN - After 22 years of dedicated service, Sheriff’s Telecommunicator Jamie Morten was celebrated for her remarkable career during a heartfelt retirement event. Morten, who began her journey as a dispatcher, reflected on the countless lives she touched while assisting others in times of need.

“I liked helping people in their time of need,” Morten shared. “I felt like I was doing something. I helped people at the sheriff’s office do their job.”

Morten’s career began with four years of dispatching before she transitioned to serving 18 years as the sheriff’s office terminal agency coordinator. In this role, she acted as the primary contact for access to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), playing a vital part in expanding NCIC services to the district attorney’s office, judicial magistrates, the court system, and the 911 Emergency Communications Center. Her efforts ensured a backup was available if the sheriff’s office dispatch was ever inaccessible.

“I loved working with 911 and I loved working with NCIC,” Morten said.

Her extraordinary contributions were recognized in 2013 when she received the “Dispatcher of the Year” award from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Law Enforcement Support Unit.

Morten’s career also included assisting with high-profile cases, including the ongoing missing child case of China Videon from 1999—a case Morten regrets remains unresolved.

Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh and Chief Deputy Keith Lowery praised Morten during the retirement celebration. Fitzhugh reminded her that the sheriff’s office would always be home, saying, “This is your home.” Lowery commended her efforts, stating, “I appreciate you and need you to know you are all first responders.”

Before joining the sheriff’s office, Morten served in the U.S. Air Force, where she supported command staff as an information management specialist. She worked closely with base generals and inspector generals, ensuring the well-being of military families during overseas deployments.

Morten’s legacy of service and compassion will continue to inspire her colleagues and the community she served so diligently.