2020 Person of the Year Nominee: Melissa Stubbs

Hannah Gross
NLJ Correspondent 
 
Working behind the scenes as a dispatcher and supervisor for 26 years at the Newcastle Law Enforcement Center, Melissa Stubbs has never been one to desire recognition, but according to co-workers and daughter Maggie Unterseher, she is very deserving of it. 
“She’s a big asset to the community,” said fellow dispatcher Tonia Mills. “She does an awful lot for the community.”
Stubbs has seen a lot over the years and, as a dispatcher, “deal(s) with all of the calls and all of the public,” according to her daughter. Stubbs has served under six different police chiefs, as well as several other deputies and officers, yet throughout the change in leadership, she has remained “steadfast” and “reliable.” Even when life itself went through its challenging trials, Stubbs didn’t waiver. 
“She’s always been there,” Unterseher said. “My mom sacrificed a lot to keep us going.” 
With the added stress of COVID-19, the dispatchers took on additional responsibility and worry because they had to ramp up emergency preparedness for both crime and pandemic-related issues, all the while protecting themselves in order to effectively help others. 
“This nomination isn’t because she is a great mom, and an even better grandma, but 2020 has thrown the dispatch center some curve balls. Melissa has navigated being short on dispatchers, hiring new, and training three newbies at one time, (and) a transfer of chiefs, on top of everything that COVID has brought,” Unterseher said. 
Along with all the other dispatchers, people can’t always see the work they put up, and Unterseher said her mom has always been involved in a quieter role as the “silent backbone” to both the community and her family, often going unrecognized — something many of Stubbs’ friends admire. 
“She’s always willing to help but never wants recognition,” said Deb Sweet, who works with juvenile probation at the sheriff’s office and has worked with Stubbs for over 20 years.
“I’ve always loved that she doesn’t want recognition,” Unterseher said. “She deserves recognition.” 
Stubbs said she had no intention of becoming a dispatcher, but when her late husband, Bill, suggested that she take the dispatcher test even though she had no experience in law enforcement, she surprised herself by passing the test, she said. A few months later, she was employed at the dispatch center to start her more than two-decade career. 
“I love it. It’s different every day,” Stubbs said. 
Although it’s not always easy — especially dealing with difficult calls involving children — Stubbs said she loves getting to meet new people and learns something new every day. The biggest takeaway from her job is that she can’t do it alone and needs those around her. 
“Nothing can be accomplished without the help of others,” she said, adding that it’s true in her career, volunteer work and daily life. 
In addition to serving as a dispatcher, Stubbs and her husband fostered approximately 50 children over a span of more than 10 years, when they saw a need for it in the community. The couple worked with the Department of Family Services, mental health services and other agencies. Stubbs said that it was a way of giving back to them and the community after Department of Family Services helped her family when they needed it. Like her job, fostering was a team effort, but it was also rewarding to watch the kids grow up and take away life lessons learned from their time with the Stubbs family. 
A native of Phoenix, Stubbs and her husband decided to move to Newcastle after Bill suffered a stroke. They wanted to get out of the big city to improve his health. 
“It was the best decision we made,” Stubbs said. “I couldn’t think of a better place to raise our children.”
Not only did Bill’s health improve, but they soon fell in love with the people. Stubbs said every accomplishment she’s ever achieved was by their support. She described them as “hardworking” and “down to earth,” willing to help out, no matter what. In return, Mills and Sweet described Stubbs as honest, friendly and outgoing as she displays deep care for her community.  
Stubbs keeps herself busy by volunteering for several organizations, including Weston County Peace Officers, which facilitates Operation Santa and Shop with a Cop, as well as serving on the boards of United
Fund and the Law Enforcement Planning Committee.
“She coordinates so much for our community to help the most vulnerable in all situations, whether at work or in free time. She has a generous spirit that continues to give back to her community,” Unterseher said.