Submitted Photo Steven McAninch, right, has been awarded the “Emergency Communicator of the Year” by the New York State Sheriffs’ Institute. McAninch helped save the life of a woman who threatened suicide in July. He is pictured with Sheriff Joe Gerace.

OBSERVER Staff Report

MAYVILLE — A senior dispatcher with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office who helped track a woman last year who threatened to harm herself on social media has been recognized by his statewide counterparts.

Steven McAninch was recently selected as the “Emergency Communicator of the Year” by the New York State Sheriffs’ Institute. Sheriff Joe Gerace nominated McAninch for the award.

McAninch was recognized for his 34-year career at the Sheriff’s Office, of which he has been supervisor for 14 years. Gerace said McAninch has been involved in many areas of the 911 center, including the development and operation of the agency’s Computer Aided Dispatch system (CAD), the oversight of response plans for fire and EMS, testing and implementation of the new county-wide public safety radio system and the upgrade of the 911 system to “Next Generation” 911.

“I am extremely proud of Steve,” Gerace said in a press release. “He is a huge asset to public safety in Chautauqua County. He is very well respected by the police, fire and EMS personnel he works with. Steve is an expert in emergency communications and we are blessed to have him.”

McAninch received national attention after a story in the OBSERVER detailed his involvement in a July 27 incident in which he helped save the life of a woman who threatened suicide. The longtime dispatcher had received a call from Facebook’s security team in Ireland that a Steamburg woman had threatened self-harm on social media.

With the help of Verizon Wireless, McAninch was able to relay the woman’s location to the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office.

By noon, just two hours after the initial call from Ireland, police located the woman at a Steamburg home. Still conscious, the woman had reportedly swallowed a number of over-the-counter pills and appeared to have superficial cuts on her body. She was taken to UPMC Chautauqua WCA hospital for treatment.

“It was just like any other call where we have to track down people … this caller just originated from Ireland,” McAninch told the paper in August. “I just happened to answer the phone … it could have been anybody.”

Added Gerace at the time: “I’m extremely proud of the way this case was handled. There are a lot of unsung heroes who work in the 911 center and they help people like this every day.”

Facebook later featured the story on its website.

To be considered for the award, those nominated must perform either an act of exceptional valor or heroism or has shown an exceptional pattern of career achievements and conscientious devotion to duty.