Two employees were promoted to positions of greater responsibility recently in Lee County’s Division of Public Safety.

Kim Dickerson, formerly deputy chief of EMS Operations, is now the deputy director of public safety. A few months ago, Dickerson appeared before the Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue Board to make a presentation to relieve the department of ambulance service by allowing the county to take over all ambulance calls. She said ambulances would be put in Lehigh fire stations and promised quick reaction time. However, the board turned her down. Lehigh taxpayers pay taxes to the county but still maintain a local ambulance service, which many people have questioned in light of financial woes facing the Lehigh Fire Dept.

Scott Tuttle, formerly deputy chief of EMS Training, is now the deputy chief of EMS Operations. The training position is being advertised this month.

County officials said Dickerson was appointed, following a national search to fill the deputy director’s position. Budget cuts forced consolidation of two deputy directors’ positions into one.

“I am excited to work with a team of dedicated public safety personnel as we face continued economic challenges over the next few years,” said Dickerson about her appointment. “The demand for 911 services has not decreased. We will continue to provide excellent pre-hospital care while responsibly using tax dollars in the most effective way, just as we did by implementing Medical Priority Dispatch and SIREN technologies.”

The two managers will oversee EMS and the 300+ employees of that department.