Astoria 911 Dispatch has promoted from within for its new operations supervisor position.

Candace Pozdolski is a lead dispatcher who has worked in Astoria for three years. Her 11 years of experience includes stops with the San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office, Atascadero Police Department, Morro Bay Police and the Oregon Department of Forestry.

Functions of the position include assisting in the planning, training and supervision of the daily operations of the center. She also will help with the purchase and maintenance of technology. Pozdolski will continue to report to Emergency Communications Manager Jeff Rusiecki.

Pozdolski helped to implement texting as a means for reporting emergencies to the center. She also serves on the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training Telecommunications Policy Committee, which offers guidance on policies and training and reviews disciplinary reports.

Soon after Brad Johnston’s sudden retirement as police chief in early August, an independent assessment found that Rusiecki — in an attempt to correct communication issues between staff and management — had for months been asking the former chief to create the operations supervisor position.

Rusiecki has said communication with dispatchers would benefit if he could have time to perform external duties such as managing direction of cellular traffic and coordinating with the public safety agencies that utilize the center, rather than completely overseeing day-to-day operations.