Breckenridge dispatcher honored for work during deadly shooting incident
By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan
Many people in Breckenridge and beyond read about the shooting death of a local man in November and the subsequent arrest of his grandson, who was charged with murder. However, most aren’t familiar with what was going on behind the scenes as the incident and investigation unfolded.
Breckenridge Police Department dispatcher Katey Turnbull was presented with a Distinguished Service Award by Police Chief Blake Johnson. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
Not only did police dispatcher Katey Turnbull take the initial phone call on Nov. 22, 2024, as well as additional calls about the shooting, she also took a call from the suspect and kept him on the phone while law enforcement officers in Eastland County located and arrested him.
On Tuesday night, the City of Breckenridge honored Turnbull with a Distinguished Service Award for her work that day when Vernon Glenn was shot and killed at a residence on Stoker Avenue in southwest Breckenridge. Later that same day, his grandson, Logan Bills, was arrested in Eastland County on charges related to the shooting.
“Katey, while working dispatch by herself that night, took in the initial call, dealt with all the chaos that comes … with that type of a call, ended up getting our officers on,” Breckenridge Police Chief Blake Johnson said at the Jan. 7 City Commission meeting. “It was an extensive amount of call out and getting people going. There were still people continuing to give calls. On top of that, later on in the evening, we ended up getting a call from the suspect, who was at large at the time; we were looking for him. And Katey, while working on the phone, took that phone call, ended up staying with him on the phone for an extensive amount of time, assisting law enforcement. … She was able to keep him on the phone … until officers were able to get there in force, to be able to go grab the (suspect).”
As part of the recognition for Turnbull, Emily Grenko, BPD Dispatch Supervisor, wrote a letter of support. “While (the Eastland) officers were in the area, Katey continued to instruct the suspect to follow their directions, keep his hands visible, and not to reach for anything,” Grenko wrote in the letter. “He was apprehended without incident. She did not have any communication with Eastland, but her efforts made it possible for their officer to go home safely that night.”
Grenko’s letter explains that, although they receive extensive training, local dispatchers aren’t necessarily trained for every possible situation. “As dispatchers in a small town/center we could go years without a call like this. While we all go through on-the-job training, basic certification, CPR, and other mandated classes, we do not usually have the staffing or opportunity to attend in-depth, specific training such as suicidal callers or hostage-type situations. With that, Katey handled this call with professionalism and remained calm and focused even though she was nervous. She gave the suspect clear directions and answered his questions as best as she could,” Grenko wrote.
Bills was later arraigned on a First Degree Murder charge and is still in the Stephens County Jail with a $400,000 bond.
Johnson said Turnbull represents the values of the community and the BPD. “It is my honor to bestow upon you, Katey, the Distinguished Service Award for your actions above and beyond the call of duty. And, like I said, you are just an asset to us all, and we are a very fortunate community to have you here.”
As an aside, Johnson mentioned that Turnbull had been working as a dispatcher up until 10 minutes before the City Commission meeting started. “It’s an amazing thing that when we’re all sitting at home or doing our things on the holidays, these are the people that are sitting up here answering those phones and making us safe,” he said. “So we are very blessed to have committed people in our community, and Katie is the example of that.”
Cutline, top photo: At the Jan. 7 Breckenridge City Commission meeting, Breckenridge Police Department dispatcher Katey Turnbull, center, was honored with a Distinguished Service Award for her work on Nov. 22, 2024, when a local man was shot and killed and the suspect eventually arrested. Breckenridge Police Chief Blake Johnson, center right, presented her with the award at the meeting with the city commissioners, City Manager Cynthia Northrop, left, City Secretary Jessica Sutter, second from left, local police officers and others present. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)
