MONDAY, October 5, 2026|
Photo – Sheriff Alex Bakken at State Capitol – Bigfoot99 file photo
Carbon County Sheriff Alex Bakken testified before the Joint Labor, Health, and Social Services Committee last week in support of increased mental‑health resources for emergency dispatchers.
On October 1st, the Joint Labor, Health, and Social Services Committee met to, among other items, discuss changes to the state’s workers compensation laws. Draft House Bill 27LSO‑0036 proposes amending the definition of first responder to include public safety telecommunicators. Currently, only law enforcement, firefighters, search and rescue personnel, and ambulance crews qualify for the additional mental‑health provisions provided to first responders under the state’s workers compensation laws.
Sheriff Alex Bakken was present at the October 1st meeting to speak in support of the draft bill. He described the June 8th incident in Baggs, where a suspect shot Sergeant Zach Burns multiple times. Sheriff Bakken said the county’s emergency dispatchers experienced extreme mental strain during the event.
Sheriff Bakken explained that the dispatchers filed for mental‑health related benefits under their state workers compensation coverage, but were denied, as they are not classified as first responders. The sheriff described public safety telecommunicators as the first-first responders, since they are typically the first point of contact during an emergency.
Labor, Health, and Social Services Committee Cochair Pepper Ottman asked what type of mental‑health preparation emergency dispatchers receive before starting the job. Sheriff Bakken responded that they receive training comparable to that of sworn law enforcement officers.
Next, Senator Charles Scott asked which states recognize emergency dispatchers as first responders for purposes of workers compensation coverage. Sheriff Bakken said to the best of his knowledge, Montana, Colorado, and Utah already make that distinction.
Following the sheriff’s comments, Thermopolis Mayor Adam Estenson described the personal strain his town’s emergency dispatchers face. Mayor Estenson said that in Wyoming’s small communities, dispatchers often know the caller and recounted a case in which a Thermopolis Police Department dispatcher answered an emergency call involving her child.
Mayor Estenson said the community does what it can to help its emergency dispatchers, but some still leave the job due to mental stress. He said public safety telecommunicators already act as first responders and should be treated as such under Wyoming’s workers compensation laws.
Senator Charles Scott added that the state’s emergency dispatchers face unique mental strains because they often stay on the line with victims for extended periods of time while officers travel to the scene.
Sheriff Alex Bakken concluded his testimony by saying that several years ago, one of his deputies experienced a traumatic death while on duty and endured mental‑health issues related to the incident. The sheriff said the deputy was able to use his state workers compensation coverage to receive treatment and return to duty. However, Sheriff Bakken said the dispatchers who responded to the June 8th shooting in Baggs were not able to receive similar treatment.
The Wyoming Joint Labor, Health, and Social Services Committee agreed to continue working on Draft House Bill 27LSO-0036 before sponsoring it for consideration during the next legislative session.
