Gail Karas recently retired as Fulton County emergency management agency director and 911 communications director. At her retirement party on Thursday, Aug. 8, at the Elks Lodge 2120 in Rochester, Karas, left, was presented with a certificate by Indiana Integrated Public Safety Commission Emergency Response Director Tyler Clements.

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By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

ROCHESTER — Fulton County has “huge shoes to fill” with the retirement of Gail Karas, says Brittney Thompson.

Thompson, a former county dispatcher, said those words of Karas at the latter’s retirement party on Thursday, Aug. 8, at the Elks Lodge 2120 in Rochester.

Karas retired on July 5 as Fulton County’s emergency management agency director and the 911 communications director to take a job with emergency communications company INdigital as a disaster recovery specialist. She’d worked for the county since June 1999, starting as a dispatcher and jail matron.

One of those at the party was Indiana Integrated Public Safety Commission Emergency Response Director Tyler Clements, who presented Karas with a certificate for a “job well done,” he said.

“What we want to celebrate tonight is the time that Gail has put into bringing communications here in Indiana where they really are today for public safety responders as far as the Ohio River all the way to northern Indiana,” he said.

Clements noted Karas served on the state interoperability executive committee, giving input regarding emergency communications and she “was that first voice that spoke up” on related ideas.

Also at the party were St. Joseph County EMA Director Al Kirsits and Deputy Director Jim Lopez.

Kirsits said he and Lopez started leading the EMA “about two years ago” in St. Joseph County and Karas was there to help them.

“We looked to Gail like a godmother and when we couldn’t figure it out … she would tell us the facts of what it was,” said Kirsits.

“Jim and I personally thank you (because) you helped us and we’re still going to be calling you and you’re always welcome in our office,” added Kirsits, addressing Karas.

“She’s been a mentor to me as I have been a mentor to her,” said Lopez. “I haven’t worked with anybody that’s worked as hard as Gail and so accomplished at what she does and what she did to make herself better.”

“The only bad thing I can say about Gail is I wish she wasn’t leaving,” added Lopez. “I’ve known her for a long time and I’d do anything for her. If she called in at one o’clock in the morning, I’d be there, and she would be there for me.”

Tony Pesaresi, who served as emcee for the evening, noted Karas helped him with emergency issues as a business owner as the head of Winamac Coil Spring in Kewanna and as the Kewanna-Union Township Fire Department chief.

“From a business and an industry in Fulton County and as a first responder and as a firefighter and as a former EMT, I’d like to say thank you,” he said.

Fulton County Commissioners’ Vice President Rick Ranstead and Member Dave Sommers noted Karas was largely responsible for the setup of the county’s new 911 center.

“We’ve had people come from all over the United States looking at (the design of) our 911 center,” said Ranstead.

He noted Karas was still helping with county needs even though she’d retired a few weeks ago.

“That just tells you the heart and the dedication she’s got for her community,” he said.

Karas is also a deputy county coroner and will continue to serve in that role.

Fulton County Coroner Jeri Good noted Karas has “a servant’s heart.”

“Vibrant with high energy, Gail is a revered leader of public safety and communications for our community and state,” Good added.

Fulton County Assessor Kasey Hensley said she and Karas “have been colleagues and friends for 14 years.”

“Her sincerity for this county and state goes beyond a job,” said Hensley. “She strives for the best, not just for herself but others.”

Fulton County GOP Chair Mike Canada and Rochester City Councilwoman Amy Roe added Karas, a current state delegate, helped with GOP events, including decorating for the 2023 Lincoln Day dinner.

“She’s a big help to me as the chair, just again doing whatever I need done. She’s always there to help,” said Canada.

Karas noted she’ll miss most “sitting in dispatch” and the “interactions locally” with her “work family.”

“I truly loved my job and (love) the community I serve,” she said.