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News & Articles
PPD announces 911 upgrades (KS)
PITTSBURG, Kan. — The Pittsburg Police Department recently joined other Kansas agencies in an effort to improve public safety with access to next-generation 911 services. This partnership allows improved location services that include more accurate longitude/latitude,...
Convey911 rapidly scales multilingual communications platform to address language
BALTIMORE - Today, Convey911, a Baltimore-based multilingual technology company serving public safety and local government, announced it has closed a seed funding round and added critical new features to its patent-protected communications and language...
Dispatcher recognized for actions taken during November shooting (OH)
CHILLICOTHE― On a Thursday afternoon last year Taylor Matson, a Chillicothe Police Department dispatcher, took actions that helped save the life of Ross County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Eric Kocheran who was shot in an exchange at the law enforcement complex in...
CPN dispatcher named Oklahoma 2022 Telecommunicator of the Year
Working as an emergency dispatcher requires a large skill set, and multitasking sits at the top of the list as one of the most helpful and essential for handling intense situations every day. Citizen Potawatomi Nation Police Department dispatcher Joan Nevin knows that...
Scott City uses new technology system to respond to emergency calls (MO)
SCOTT CITY, Mo. (KFVS) - 911 dispatchers in Scott City have a new tool to use during an emergency. Through an app on your smartphone, and with your permission, they’ll be able to access your phone’s camera, which they say will help first responders.
Former OEM dispatcher accuses supervisors, trainers of harassment (WV)
KINGWOOD – A former Preston County Office of Emergency Management dispatcher says she was subjected to inappropriate sexual conduct and retaliation after she reported her concerns to county officials.
Mindbase Joins the RapidSOS Partner Network and is now RapidSOS Ready
Mindbase provides 911 telecommunicators access to purpose-built mental health & wellness resources through the partnership with RapidSOS READ FULL ARTICLE
Seattle police begin sending automated texts, emails to 911 callers to seek feedback (WA)
The Seattle Police Department (SPD) began a new process Thursday to follow up with 911 callers and crime victims in the city. The process involves sending fully automated text messages and emails seeking feedback and aims to “improve services to the community." READ...
Alleged headlights flasher harasses 9-1-1 operator, gets arrested by deputies (CA)
VICTORVILLE -- Golden Meadow Lane in Victorville saw deputies show up following an early Monday morning phone call after 5:00am.
This is not a Broward County Issue. This is a National Issue (FL)
The city commissions of Coral Springs, Parkland, and Coconut Creek met with county and public safety representatives to discuss a possible hub system, which would make the 911 call system more efficient by streamlining information sharing and reducing response...
Hardin 911? Lawmakers and law enforcement work to reconnect police with dispatch (MT)
HARDIN — On July 15, a massive dust storm swept across I-90 near Hardin, causing blackout conditions and a 21-vehicle pile-up, which killed six people, including two children. As emergency responders from multiple agencies responded, Hardin's police department never...
Stafford County dispatcher used compassion to get a caller to put down loaded gun from his head (VA)
STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. — First responders play a vital role when answering calls from people during a vulnerable time and in an emergency, especially suicide-related ones.
City breaks ground on new dispatch center (OK)
Firefighters, police officers and emergency services personnel joined members of the community Thursday to commemorate the groundbreaking ceremony for the new City of Norman Emergency Communications and Operations Center (ECOC). READ FULL ARTICLE
Evansville Central Dispatch: Unsung heroes of Walmart’s active shooter situation (IN)
Using information from 911 calls, Evansville Central Dispatch was able to provide police with information that led them to locate the active shooter at the Walmart on Evansville’s west side. The calm and professionalism of these dispatchers helped law enforcement save...
Order details judge’s ruling on 911 funding complaint – (VA)
An order filed Thursday explains in detail a superior court judge’s ruling regarding 911 funding which the city of Roanoke Rapids raised objections to in a complaint. Judge Jeffrey Foster ultimately ruled in the county’s favor January 4.
Tennessee Becomes First in the Nation to Integrate FirstNet with AT&T ESInet for All 9-1-1 Call Centers Statewide
Tennessee has embarked upon a plan to fully back up every one of its 9-1-1 call centers with AT&T ESInet™ and FirstNet® – America’s public safety network – to increase their reliability and resiliency. This is a major step forward for public safety as Tennessee...
Authorities release 911 call from Jeremy Renner snow plow accident (NV)
RENO, Nev. (KOLO) - Truckee Meadows Fire and Rescue is releasing the 20 minute, 911 call from the New Year’s Day crash that left actor Jeremy Renner hospitalized .
Bishop Police Department clears up confusion about dispatch services (TX)
BISHOP, Texas — Residents of Bishop will no longer talk to dispatchers located in their city. Instead, someone in Corpus Christi will be on the other line, answering their call for help.
Monroe County Central Emergency Dispatch Center workers vote to unionize (IN)
Workers of the Monroe County Central Emergency Dispatch Center, who are employed by the City of Bloomington, voted 17-0 to unionize Tuesday. The workers are asking the city to recognize them as first responders, treating them in a similar way to BPD and BFD, according...
911 dispatcher talks caller from jumping off bridge (NC)
ASHEBORO — A 911 telecommunication was honored for talking a 13-year-old teenage from jumping off a bridge. On Dec. 29, 2022, a 13-year-old female of Asheboro called 911. The juvenile was experiencing an emotional crisis and threatening to jump off of a bridge...
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On January 31, 1940, the first Social Security check was issued, and millions have since used their checks to cover bills, groceries, medications, and so much more.
Instead of protecting your hard-earned benefits, MAGA Republicans want to cut them. I won't let that happen.
ICYMI: The FCC worked to set up 988, the nation's first three-digit suicide and mental health hotline. Now we're putting in policies to prevent outages so 988 help is always available for those in need.
https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-proposes-rules-promote-reliable-access-988-lifeline-0
Peeps, Mike and Ike, and Hot Tamales.
Legend.
NYC-born 'Father of Peeps' marshmallow candies dead at 98 https://bit.ly/3wGrLDt
Opinions
Letter to the Editor: More training for 911 operators (SC)
It is time that we see a change in the number of individuals that survive sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in South Carolina. Currently, there is only about a 12% survival rate for those who experience SCA outside of the hospital setting. With a large...
Unsung heroes (WY)
To the Editor:Can we take a minute to talk about some of our most unsung heroes in our county? I’m referring to our dispatchers, the people who answer our calls when we are having an emergency.
It’s important for our citizens to know how often these people are forgotten as some of our most important heroes in our community. When we call them, it doesn’t matter which town we are from, whether we are in the city or the county. What matters to them is getting us the help we need, as quickly and efficiently as they can. They are our fist line of defense in every situation that comes to them. They have to make the decision of who needs to be notified and sent our way. They have to know what to tell us to do in any emergency that we call them with, how to administer first aid, how to perform CPR, the safest measures to take when there’s been an accident, etc. They must keep us as calm as possible, often in situations that seem like the worst moments of our lives.
Most importantly they are doing all of these things simultaneously. While they are dealing with us they are also monitoring our rescuers’ safety, locations and providing quickest route details. In most cases they don’t ever know the outcome of any given situation. When we hang up with them, we often forget that they have just experienced our trauma with us, but they have to be ready to answer the next call when it comes in. Can most of us imagine what the weight of that might feel like?
After saying all of this, I’m wondering if our two governing bodies, the city council and county commissioners, have given this any thought?
We’ve all heard about communication equipment and whether we should or shouldn’t pay for it. We’ve all heard about the possibility of a joint powers board and should we have one or not. We’ve heard discussion of the possibility of splitting the dispatch center into two different centers.
Have these two governing entities ever talked to the people who matter significantly here? Again, referring to the dispatchers who are doing this extremely difficult job. Are they asking for their input on what they might need, to do their jobs most efficiently? Were any of them ever asked to be on a joint powers board? Have they been asked if they want to split the dispatch center? Have they been asked for any input at all?
Are these governing agencies choosing to make all of these decisions, that affect the public’s safety, without talking to the people who actually do the job?
I believe every city council member and county commissioner should be required to spend a 12-hour shift in the dispatch center watching what these people do to keep us safe. When they do, they should pray that it’s not one of the “bad days” because they might leave there a little scarred. Maybe if we require this of them before they make these important decisions they will realize that these are not just glorified receptionists we are talking about.
These forgotten heroes the dispatchers are in fact the oil and fuel that keeps the rest of the machine running!
RICK MACLEAN: ‘9-1-1. What is the nature of your emergency?’ (Canada)
“9-1-1, what is the nature of your emergency?” I knew who it was before I answered. “This is 9-1-1. Is there an emergency?” But I’m guilty of jumping to the end of this story – emergency? It started much earlier, in the wee hours, around 8:30 a.m., definitely the wee...
If you call in an emergency, try to give useful information (TX)
This year, 2022, already doesn’t seem much different from 2021. We had COVID and still have COVID, and we had lots of traffic and still have lots of traffic. As Hood County grows, so will our growing pains. My office is here to serve all who live in Hood County and...
Open Source: Why has the Knox County 911 line gone down recently? (OH)
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is in response to a reader-submitted question through Open Source, a platform where readers can submit questions to the staff. MOUNT VERNON — The 911 phone line in Knox County has gone down twice in the last few weeks. The reason why? On Nov....
An Open Letter to City Council and the City Manager on Police Encryption. (CA)
We, the undersigned, are writing to express our concern about the recent decision by the Berkeley City Council, the City Manager, and the Berkeley Police Department to use encrypted public safety radio devices in Berkeley. It is our understanding that the City of...
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