Friday marks the end of a 33-year career in the Perry Police Department for Communications Director Lori Riley of Perry.
Riley graduated from Perry High School in 1978, but her working life really started in eighth grade as a car hop at the Dog-N-Suds. She started working as a dispatcher in the Perry Police Department in August 1991 under the leadership of Perry Police Chief Jim Smith.
Riley worked as an administrative assistant in the Adel Police Department from 2003 to 2007 but continued part-time at the Perry PD and was persuaded to return to full-time work in Perry by Perry Police Chief Dan Brickner and Assistant Chief Eric Vaughn.
“Her alertness and ability to comprehend situations is what makes her a perfect fit for her chosen career path,” said a lifelong friend. As Riley noted in a 2013 interview, a lot has changed since 1991.
“Back then we only had one screen to keep track of,” she said. “Now we have eight screens to monitor. That’s good because we can do things, like keep tabs on the officers, but it means keeping track of a lot more too.”
There is more to public safety communications than answering 911 calls. In Perry the dispatchers also act as jailers and record clerks, and they assist in investigations by running criminal histories and checking driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations.
“Dispatchers don’t often get the credit they deserve for the job they do, but it’s people like Lori who are often the first people someone in crisis speaks to,” said Vaughn, who became the Perry Police Chief in 2014. “Lori has always done a great job handling people in stress.”
When Riley returned to full-time work at the Perry PD in 2007, she helped establish Perry’s Emergency Medical Service (EMS) dispatch protocol and served on the 911 Board and the Emergency Management Commission. Vaughn said she also helped secure additional funds for the department in order to maintain and upgrade the dispatch center.
“It was also a big plus to have her as she grew up here and knows the area and people so well,” Vaughn said. “Her knowledge of the town and job will definitely be missed. That is just hard to replace.”
Riley was also seen from time to time moonlighting at the Perry Fareway or the Elks Club, but her heart has always been with the Perry PD.
“She deserves all our thanks for sticking with us so long,” said Vaughn.
Does Riley, the mother of three daughters and one son, have plans for retirement?
“Welp, whatever sounds good that day!” she recently said with gusto.
