Staff

Marc C. Breckenridge
Director of Emergency Services

Marc came to the division in 1992 after serving twelve years in the Emergency Medical Services field.  Now under the Office of the Sheriff, Marc is the division head for Emergency Management, Homeland Security and 9-1-1 Central Dispatch Operations.  He currently serves as Chair of the Homeland Security Task Force, Emergency Coordinator for the Local Emergency Planning Committee, treasurer of the Hazardous Materials Response Team Authority Board, and as Washtenaw County's representative and Vice-chair of the Southeast Michigan Homeland Security (UASI) Board.

Marc holds Bachelor's degrees in Hazardous Materials and Paramedic Technology and is a graduate of the National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland.  He is also licensed or certified in the State of Michigan as a Professional Emergency Manager, Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Professional, and Paramedic.

Marc has received two commendations for lifesaving action beyond the call of duty, five meritorious service commendations and six awards for administrative excellence.

David Halteman
Assistant Director and
Enhanced 9-1-1 Coordinator

David was appointed as Assistant Director in March of 1997 and is deputized by the Washtenaw County Sheriff.  He previously held emergency communications positions in the Washtenaw County Sheriff Department and with Eastern Michigan University Police.  His responsibilities include management of the county's Enhanced 9-1-1 system as its coordinator and as professional staff for the Emergency Telephone District Board and Public Safety Answering Points committee.  He coordinates multiple collaborative projects including programs developed by the UASI (Homeland Security) Interoperable Communications Investment Committee, Michigan Public Safety Communications System Project Implementation Committee, and Geographic Information Systems Departmental Liaison and Project Oversight committees.  In addition, he serves as Washtenaw County's alternate member on the Hazardous Materials Response Team Authority Board and Local Emergency Planning Committee, and acts on behalf of the Emergency Management Director in his absence.

David earned a Bachelor's degree in Communications Technology with a minor in Graphic Design from Eastern Michigan University and is a certified Hazardous Materials Technician and Michigan Professional Emergency Manager.  David has received both a meritorious service commendation and a Sheriff's Unit Citation.

Denise Wirtz
Administrative Assistant

Denise has been with the division since 1982. She was previously with the County's Community Mental Health division for five years.  Denise coordinates numerous record keeping projects, tracks accounts, and is liaison to various county business activities.  Denise staffs and helps the Director coordinate Homeland Security Task Force and Hazardous Materials Response Team Authority board meetings and activities. She is a graduate of the Dale Carnegie course, is cross-trained in radiological protection, and is a Michigan Professional Emergency Manager.

Joan Cottrell
Management Assistant
Emergency Medical Services Program

Joan has been with the division as the Washtenaw/Livingston Medical Control Authority Board staff since 1996.  She was previously with Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor for eight years in the Emergency Business Office and also in the Emergency Residency Office.  Joan is a graduate of Washtenaw Community College and the Dale Carnegie course, and is a licensed Emergency Medical Technician.

Kenneth J. Kelly
Emergency Planning Assistant

Ken was Washtenaw County's Continuity of Government and Local Support Plan project manager in 2005, and returned to the Division full time in 2007.  Ken was previously a popular Washtenaw County radio broadcaster and station operations manager for 18 years... with an extensive local news and public information background.  He attended St. Francis College in New York and the Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts; and is presently completing the Michigan Professional Emergency Manager certification program.  Ken's responsibilities include development and maintenance of Washtenaw County's Emergency Action Guidelines, and with continually updating the local response plans for hazardous materials facilities, pipelines, dams and spillways.  He also maintains Washtenaw County's Hazard Mitigation Plan, and coordinates Washtenaw County's annual disaster exercise.

Benjamin Pinette
Emergency Planning Coordinator
Homeland Security Program

Ben has been with the division since 2008 and was appointed as Emergency Planning Coordinator in 2010. He previously spent 13 years in sales and business management and was a volunteer coordinator for Washtenaw County’s Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service and Skywarn Spotter programs for eight years.

Ben serves as the Division’s Homeland Security Grant Program project manager and as professional staff to the Washtenaw County Homeland Security Task Force.  Ben coordinates the implementation of programs and strategic initiatives developed by the regional Homeland Security Critical Infrastructure and Information Sharing and also the Organizational Structure Committees.  He also maintains National Incident Management System compliance requirements including training, personnel identification, resource typing, and progress reporting.

Ben is a certified Professional Emergency Manager in Michigan and is cross-trained in both Hazardous Materials Operations and emergency communications.

Sarah Taylor
Dispatch Operations Coordinator

Sarah joins the Washtenaw County Emergency Services Division with 10 years of active experience in the 9-1-1 field.  Through her past experiences as a Dispatcher, Supervisor and Training Coordinator she is able to utilize her progressive knowledge of dispatch roles, training methods and operations to manage Central Dispatch as the Dispatch Operations Coordinator.

Sarah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy from Michigan State University and is a certified Emergency Number Professional.  She is a member of both The Association of Public –Safety Communications Officials (APCO) and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA).