Katrina Dent
Northeast Representative
Sheriff's Office Communications Director
McDuffie County, Georgia
Professional Biography
Katrina Dent serves as the Director of Communications for the McDuffie County Sheriff's Office, bringing more than 24 years of experience in public safety and emergency communications to her role. Appointed Director in 2022, she oversees a 24/7 communications center that manages more than 60,000 emergency calls each year, coordinating emergency response among local law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services.
Prior to joining McDuffie County, Katrina spent 20 years with the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, where she began her career as a Communications Officer and advanced to Training Coordinator. In that role, she oversaw the training and development of new communications officers, provided continuing education for current staff, maintained certification and training records, and monitored quality and performance standards. She also assisted the agency in maintaining its accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).
Katrina's experience provides her with a comprehensive understanding of public safety communications, from frontline operations and training to organizational leadership. She is committed to strengthening the 9-1-1 profession through collaboration with public safety professionals, community partners, and industry vendors, with a focus on improving services for first responders and the communities they serve.
Katrina holds a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Augusta University, formerly Augusta State University, and a Master's Degree in Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness from Troy University. She is also a Georgia P.O.S.T. Certified Instructor and is passionate about teaching, mentoring, and developing the next generation of public safety communications professionals.
As the Northeast Regional Representative on the Georgia 9-1-1 Directors Association Board, Katrina is dedicated to representing the needs and perspectives of communications centers throughout Northeast Georgia and supporting the Association's mission to strengthen collaboration, professional development, and emergency communications across the state.