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Call to Action: Ask Congress to Fully Fund Next Generation 9-1-1
We need your help, public safety! On March 11, 2021 the U.S. House of Representatives introduced the Next Generation 9-1-1 Act of 2021 as part of the LIFT America Act (H.R. 1848). Now we need to urge the Senate to fully fund this legislation. This is what you can do to encourage the Senate to fully fund this legislation…
Features
Will a cyberattack take down next-generation 911?
The upcoming generation of 911 technologies is exciting for a lot of people working in public safety today because it represents the first major upgrade in decades. The idea that people at the scene of an accident or a crime will be able to not only call for...
News & Articles
Perry Co., Tell City leaders reach agreement on future dispatch services (IN)
PERRY CO., Ind. (WFIE) - Tell City and County leaders have come to an agreement on the future of county dispatch. The two sides were previously split over the PSAP designation or who answers the call when you dial 911. According to commissioner Tom Hauser, the...
Will a cyberattack take down next-generation 911?
The upcoming generation of 911 technologies is exciting for a lot of people working in public safety today because it represents the first major upgrade in decades. The idea that people at the scene of an accident or a crime will be able to not only call for...
Pender County Commissioners approve architects for design phase of new jail, law enforcement center (NC)
BURGAW, N.C. (WECT) - Pender County Commissioners approved the Moseley Architectural P.C. contract for the new Pender County Law Enforcement Center in a unanimous vote at a meeting Monday evening. Moseley will provide the full architectural and engineering design...
Washington state agencies brace for staffing disaster following Inslee’s vaccine deadline
The deadline for most state government, health care and school workers in Washington to get their mandated coronavirus vaccination is Monday, October 18. Democrat Governor Jay Inslee issued the mandate in August and unlike other mandates across the country, provided...
Local job fair aims to recruit 911 dispatchers and other positions (MO)
ST. LOUIS (KMOV.com) – Calling all job seekers, the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment will hold a job fair to fill several positions. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., future applicants can head to the Wesley House Association at 4507 Lee Avenue for the hiring fair....
VIPS host First Annual Law Enforcement and Telecommunications Banquet (WV)
BUCKHANNON — Officers from multiple departments and telecommunicators, along with city officials, joined to celebrate the First Annual Law Enforcement and Telecommunications Banquet hosted by the Volunteers In Police Service (VIPS) on Saturday. Local law...
The Benefits of Z-Axis Through FirstNet
By Jeff Bratcher, Chief Network and Technology Officer, First Responder Network Authority This year marks the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11. In the aftermath of that tragedy, the public safety community pushed for its own dedicated network...
Press Release: District’s 911 System: Reforms Needed to Assure Public Safety (Washington DC)
OUC staff requires more supervision, improved call handling, and efficient location identification; recent improvements should continue with enhanced support October 19, 2021 (WASHINGTON) The D.C. Office of United Communications 911 Operations Division (OUC) has...
Durham 911 asks police dept. to help dispatch calls, interim chief says ‘we don’t have the staff,’ internal emails say (NC)
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) – Nearly 40 percent of the 911 operator positions at the Durham Emergency Communications Center (DECC) are now vacant, as the number of operational vacancies is now at 23 as of Friday afternoon, according to city’s website. For months, the shortage...
Dickinson Co. Emergency Communications says goodbye to late, recently retired Director (KS)
ABILENE, Kan. (WIBW) - Dickinson County Emergency Communications is saying goodbye to late and recently retired Communications Director Russell Wilkins, who passed away on Monday. The Dickinson County Emergency Communications Center says Russell Wilkins, 60,...
St. Louis City’s plan to consolidate 911 dispatch operations awaiting approval (MO)
ST. LOUIS – A plan to consolidate 911 dispatch operations in St. Louis City will likely need state approval before it can become a reality. The Post-Dispatch reported a plan to merge all of the 911 dispatching services in the city is already being reviewed. Now city...
Public Safety Advocate: Turning Push-To-Talk Interoperability on Its Head, Disagreeing with Morgan O’Brien, and the Wireless Dinner at IWCE
This week I decided to once again discuss the urgent need for nationwide Push-To-Talk (PTT) interoperability between FirstNet, broadband, and Land Mobile Radio (LMR). Well, we no longer have to wait for vendors to finally work together. With some vendors’...
Interoperability Even More Critical for Emergency Communications
Every second counts in emergency response. That is why real-time communications across multiple agencies and multiple jurisdictions—as well as inside and outside buildings-- is critical to ensure the safety of citizens. These communications vehicles are increasingly...
911 SYSTEM IN JEOPARDY AS FIRST RESPONDERS REJECT JAB
The American Ambulance Association (AAA) warned House and Senate leaders the "nation's EMS system is facing a crippling workforce shortage, a long-term problem that has been building for more than a decade. It threatens to undermine our emergency 9-1-1...
Labor Shortage affecting 911 operation centers in Hampton Roads (VA)
There is a shortage of 911 dispatchers and call takers. Many Hampton Roads cities are down more than 10 workers. CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Author's note: the video above first aired in July 2021. Emergency dispatchers help people through some of their worst moments. Call...
Cherokee County Names New E 9-1-1 Director (GA)
WOODSTOCK, GA — A decorated officer, paramedic and veteran has taken the helm of Cherokee E 9-1-1. Shane Bonebrake, who recently retired from the Woodstock Police Department, was named the new E 9-1-1 director. His first day on the job was Monday, Oct. 4. "I chose...
Iowa first responders using app to locate people in emergencies
DES MOINES, Iowa — Some metro first responders are now using an app that can help them get to 911 calls quicker. When someone doesn't know where they are. KCCI's Chris Gothner shows you why knowing just three words could save your life. [VIDEO]... READ MORE
Louisville’s 911 call center short dozens of employees (KY)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - Louisville’s 911 dispatch center is facing staff shortages that are causing some callers to have to wait. “I know it’s your emergency,” Jim Intermaggio, a 911 call taker, told WAVE 3 News. “We’re going to get you. Don’t hang up if you call and...
PSBTA Announces VISION 2022 FirstNet Users Summit
The Public Safety Broadband Technology Association (PSBTA) is your FirstNet Connection. Join us on January 18-21, 2022, as the PSBTA presents Vision 2022: FirstNet Users Summit. Learn, grow, and be inspired as public safety moves ahead in 2022 stronger than ever before.
Chairman’s Corner: Columbia County 911 (NY)
Over time, the Columbia County Emergency 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Department, as it’s officially known, has increasingly become the nerve center for emergency response in Columbia County. As director of 9-1-1 Rob Lopez says, “The 9-1-1 center is basically...
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ICYMI: The North American Numbering Council met on 10/13. View the webcast of the meeting here: http://go.usa.gov/xFVjX #FCCGov
Rep. @NormaJTorres addresses @RepLizCheney directly: "You and I were colleagues on this committee...our positions and beliefs couldn't be further apart. But I'm so proud, you know, to call you a colleague. That you are trying to figure out what happened, what went wrong."
.@NormaJTorres says Jan 6 panel isn't about red or blue...is trying to figure out what happened, what went wrong, who was responsible for trying to hang VP Pence, to kill members of Congress, to stop democracy.
"We can't cover up something so horrific."
Opinions
Letter: From deep stress to soaring morale, dispatchers thank supporters (MA)
Please Support Local Advertisers On September 20, 2021, the Ipswich Select Board voted unanimously to reject joining the North Shore Regional 911 center which would have closed our local 911 Communications Center. We understand it is the job of the Town Manager and...
BCLA privileged to honors emergency responders | Opinion (KS)
To the Editor,Did you know Brown County has 279 emergency responder positions filled? Did you know that in addition to community fire departments, police departments, dispatch, the sheriff’s department and our county wide ambulance service, we also have a mounted search and rescue team (which uses horses & riders to search off the beaten path during an emergency) and Squad 48 (which extract people from vehicle accidents & other emergencies requiring special equipment)?The men and women doing these jobs are not doing it for fame and fortune. They are doing it because they feel called to serve and protect their community…to make it a better and safer place for themselves, their families and ALL of us.BCLA was privileged to honor Brown County’s 279 emergency responders on Patriot Day – Saturday, September 11, 2021. On a day filled with much emotion – the 20th anniversary of 9/11 – we remembered those that gave the ultimate sacrifice at the World Trade Center in New York City. Then we said thank you to our Brown County First Responders because we never know when that opportunity could be taken from us.THANK YOU to the almost 200 people who participated in the procession and ceremony and another approximately 70 people who took advantage of the World Trade Center Virtual Tour at Arrow Twin Theatre. If you were unable to attend Saturday’s events, we encourage you to take a moment, pick a specific emergency responder &/or a department and send a handwritten thank you to them. Brown County departments honored on Saturday included:Everest Fire DepartmentFairview Fire DepartmentHiawatha Fire DepartmentRescue Squad 48 & Town & Country EMSHorton Fire DepartmentIoway Tribal Fire DepartmentKickapoo Tribal Fire DepartmentMorrill Fire DepartmentPowhattan Fire DepartmentRobinson Fire DepartmentBrown County Sheriff, Dispatchers & Mounted Search & RescueHiawatha PoliceHorton Police & DispatchersIoway Tribal Law EnforcementKickapoo Tribal Law EnforcementReginal Highway TroopersSac & Fox Tribal Law EnforcementIf you were unable to see the Virtual Tour we invite you to visit this link so you can watch from home. The link will be active through Sunday, September 19. https://www.911memorial.org/demand-tours PASSWORD: NC9DNVWe also want to give a BIG THANK YOU to the other groups and individuals who helped make these Patriot Day events possible:Lingling (Rachel) Zhang, Arrow Twin TheatreLynn Allen, Brown County Historical SocietyWilliam Geisendorf, Hiawatha Family DentistryBrad Unruh & Monte Unruh, Jackrabbit CoffeeLauren Lock, McDonald’sMatt Bartlett, SonicJoan Stoller, American Heritage Girls Troop #KS2315Laura Hooper, Scout Troop #313Matthew Leahy, Hiawatha High ArtKarie Covert, Hiawatha Middle ArtMike Dunaway, Zion Lutheran ChurchRichard Lehmkuhl, Eternal HopeSteve Stoller, Sabetha Thrivent FinancialSpencer Madison, vocalistSarah Kleopfer, vocalistJudy Bruning, pianistJoey May, Hiawatha WorldHorton HeadlightHiawatha Kiwanis ClubBrown County CommissionersHiawatha City CommissionersBrown County Home GuardBlake Ezra Burton Memorial FundSubmitted by: Brown County Liberty Alliance – Patriot Day CommitteeJerry & Jeanette AllerStuart & Amanda AllerLucas & Kendra HeinenBrian & Annette Hoskins
9/11 NYPD Dispatcher to Newsmax: Need Unity, Compassion Again (NY)
Candace Baker, a New York Police dispatcher on Sept. 11, 2001 who spent the whole day taking missing persons calls, tells Newsmax that Americans need to return to the sense of unity and compassion that united them in the days following the terrorist attacks...
Opinion: Dialing 911 for a mental health emergency will soon dispatch clinicians, not police (CA)
Gloria is the mayor of San Diego and lives in Mission Hills. Fletcher is chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and lives in City Heights. Not all emergencies are alike. Police officers respond to crimes. Firefighters respond to fires. Paramedics respond...
Letter: Ludicrous to outsource public safety dispatch (MA)
I have learned that The Ipswich Public Safety Dispatch Center is being threatened and in danger of being shut down thus closing our police station. The Ipswich Dispatch Center is staffed by highly qualified, trained and dedicated men and women. The idea of outsourcing...
Beyond the Comfort Zone
Samantha Hawkins Every 911 operator has that call that will demand more of them than usual … this was mine. I was the second 911 operator she had spoken with that morning. Only six minutes into our phone conversation on that 911 line, I had determined that she very...
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