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Communications Supervisor Jonathan Kurth saved dispatch officer who was choking (WI)
Dispatch workers at communication centers can be overlooked to the impact they have in emergency situations. They often help someone on the scene, stay calm and talk someone through life-saving measures. However, Jonathan Kurth, Marathon County Communications...
Metuchen enters shared service with Rutgers University for police dispatch (NJ)
METUCHEN – For Police Chief Arthur Flaherty, a single seat police dispatch was essentially “a bad situation” waiting to happen. “We have evolved from a town of 12,800 to a town of 17,000 right now,” he said. “We are putting in 240 more condos and a 30-acre park. We...
FIRST LOOK: Desert Hot Springs to open new police dispatch center – (CA)
Desert Hot Springs Police Department is gearing up to open a brand new dispatch center – the first addition to its expanded public safety campus. DHSPD Communications Manager June Casey gave News Channel 3 an exclusive first look inside the center, calling it a...
3-month-old baby dies in hot car. DC’s 911 call center canceled EMS while en route
WASHINGTON (7News) — A three-month-old baby boy is dead after a D.C. rescue squad was canceled en route to the child, locked in a car -- possibly for hours. READ FULL ARTICLE
McHenry Call Dispatch Center Gains Award for Excellence (IL)
MCHENRY POLICE DEPARTMENT/ NERCOM EARNS AWARD FOR DISPATCH EXCELLENCE
McHenry, August 11th, 2022 — The McHenry Police Department Dispatch Center, known as North East Regional Communications Center (NERCOM), has been recognized by The International Academies of Emergency Dispatch® (IAEDTM) as an Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) for Emergency Medical Dispatching.
NERCOM is the 307th Medical ACE in the world.
IAED is the standard-setting organization for emergency dispatch services worldwide.
Accreditation (and subsequent re-accreditation) from the IAED is the highest distinction given to emergency communication centers, certifying that the center is performing at or above the established standards for the industry. Centers who earn ACE status are the embodiment of dispatch done right, and have demonstrated strong local oversight, rigorous quality processes, and a commitment to data-driven continuous improvement.
NERCOM, currently dispatches for 16 different agencies.
During the 2021 calendar year, NERCOM answered approximately 41,445 Emergency 911 calls and approximately 79,842 non-emergency administrative calls.
With 22 highly trained full-time telecommunicators, along with the Center’s Supervisor, Jenny Synek, NERCOM operates as one of the area’s largest centers, providing professional dispatch services.
McHenry Police Department Chief, John Birk, said,
“We are thrilled to receive this award, it supports our organizational value of “service” to others through excellence in emergency medical dispatching.”
“Accreditation is truly a pinnacle achievement”, said Christof Chwojka, Accreditation Board Chair at IAED.
“We applaud the dedicated call-takers, dispatchers, and leadership team at the McHenry Police Department / NERCOM for their commitment to quality, and for meeting that high standard that few achieve.
“We know their community can count on these first, first responders to do an outstanding job.”
IAED will present the McHenry Police Department with an Accreditation plaque that commemorates theirachievement. IAED Accreditation is the culmination of a lengthy, arduous process that includes the completion of the 20 Points of Accreditation, a detailed evaluation of performance by industry experts, and a final review and ruling by IAED.
For more than 40 years, the IAED has been the standard-setting organization for emergency dispatch and response services worldwide and is the leading body of emergency dispatch experts. IAED is a member-driven association working to serve the public through the professional development of dispatchers. Accreditation is valid for a three-year period, during which all standards must be upheld.
The fourth 911 option: Mental health services – EMS1 (TX)
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Pennsylvania Counties’ 911 Center Joins Statewide Radio Network |
The Columbia-Montour County 911 Center, operating as the East Central Emergency Network (ECEN), recently transitioned to the Pennsylvania Statewide Radio Network (PA-STARNet), the commonwealth’s state-of-the-art Project 25 (P25) radio network for public safety and...
Cops: Woman Made 11K Calls To Police Line | The Smoking Gun (FL)
AUGUST 10--A Florida Woman this year has made more than 11,000 harassing phone calls to a police emergency communications center, according to cops who say the defendant admitted that she “loves playing this game.” Carla Jefferson, 50, was busted Monday evening on a...
CPSO now receiving emergency live streams via 911 calls – (LA)
VIDALIA, La. (KNOE) - The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office has activated an emergency streaming technology for residents. The official name of the service is 911eye, and it’s a live streaming technology, but for law enforcement.
Coalition expresses urgent need to NG911 funding, wants more than proposed $10 billion
ANAHEIM—Public Safety NG911 Coalition representatives expressed support for legislation that calls for as much as $10 billion in spectrum-auctions proceeds to be used to fund the transition to next-generation 911 technology, but they want the money to be available...
Yakima Co. dispatchers seeing more people texting 911 when it’s not safe to call (WA)
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It’s not just police officers. 911 dispatchers are also in short supply (WA)
Earlier this summer, the Washington State Patrol did something it’s never done before: close one of its eight regional communication centers used to answer 911 calls and dispatch troopers and other first responders to emergencies. The center, located in Wenatchee, had...
APCO releases NG911 guide, quickly clarifies stance on NENA’s i3 standard
ANAHEIM—At its annual trade show, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) yesterday announced the release of its “Definitive Guide to Next-Generation 911” and, hours later, issued a press release to clarify its position on the i3 standard...
$3.4 million approved to upgrade Springfield’s emergency dispatch center – (MA)
The city of Springfield, Massachusetts is planning to spend millions of dollars to improve its emergency communications. The Springfield City Council authorized a $3.4 million bond to cover the cost of upgrading technology at the centralized dispatch center.
North Olmsted residents submit petition regarding dispatch center ordinance – (OH)
NORTH OLMSTED, Ohio — The debate over emergency services in North Olmsted isn’t finished yet, council members passed legislation surrounding the city's dispatch centers, but residents like Alejandro Chock aren't on board. “I’m very concerned that for a period of time,...
City of Slaton considers transferring dispatch services to Lubbock County – (TX)
LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - The City of Slaton is considering entering an agreement with Lubbock County for dispatch services, something city officials say would save money, but residents have some concerns. Sheriff Kelly Rowe says Slaton is the last municipality in...
Charlottesville Communications Officers are using new technology – – (VA)
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- The Charlottesville-UVA-Albemarle Emergency Communications Center has made improvements for emergency responders to get into contact with people quicker. Real-time video has joined 911 and text-to-911 for visitors and residents in...
Steve’s heart stopped five times. His wife’s quick thinking saved his life (CA)
Annette thanks 911 dispatcher Chris Cook for life-saving advice as he told her how to get her husband’s heart beating again. She said he also made sure to keep her calm and focused as she drove to work.
Howard County Dispatcher Recognized for Going Above and Beyond After Vague 911 Call (MD)
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911 Dispatchers get a boost in telecommunication thanks to a state radio update – (SD)
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KEVN) - Law enforcement and other emergency responders will have better radio access in the Black Hills thanks to new radio tower coverage. $2.4 million was allocated by the 2021 legislature for the purchase of new radio equipment.... and Pennington...
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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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