La Crosse County Public Safety Communications Supervisor Michael Thompson has been selected Line Supervisor of the Year by NICE Systems’ Public Safety Answering Point’s Finest Awards.

NICE Systems is a company that provides security systems, including public safety communications call-monitoring software and equipment.

Thompson, a West Salem resident, has been with the La Crosse emergency dispatch center since 1997. He was promoted to supervisor in 2003. Currently, Thompson leads the 3-to-11 p.m. shift.

“Mike is an extremely dedicated public servant,” said Jay Loeffler, emergency services administrator for La Crosse County. “He led our department through its busiest event ever with last year’s flooding and train derailment.”

In August 2007, La Crosse County experienced record amounts of rain, causing flash flooding in the southern part of the county. That weekend, the dispatch center answered the most 9-1-1 calls in its 25-year history. In a 12-hour period alone there were 295 calls. Prior to that event, the most calls the center experienced was 249, but that was for 24 hours.

When Thompson’s shift was to end that night, he stayed working because there was no supervisor scheduled for the overnight shift.

To add to the challenges faced that evening, the flooding washed the rail bed under a stalled train carrying hazardous materials. After 18 hours, his relief arrived.

Thompson left the center, but continued to work. He drove La Crosse County’s command and communications vehicle to the area of the flooding to be used as a command post for public safety responders. He then assisted in the field.

“The effort he gave during this event is reflective of what Mike Thompson does on a daily basis,” Loeffler said. “Mike is a hands-on supervisor and leads by example. He holds himself — in both actions and words — to the highest level of competence which provides a guide to his teammates.”

In addition, Thompson was instrumental in bringing enhanced 9-1-1 wireless capability to La Crosse County in 2007 and coordinates many of the communications technology within the 9-1-1 center. He also is the department’s liaison with Wisconsin’s Crime Information Bureau

Thompson is originally from Minnesota. He previously worked with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department and had a communications internship with the Minnesota State Patrol. He graduated from the 9-1-1 dispatch program at Minneapolis Technical College.