GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Gwinnett County leaders gathered together on Thursday to recognize police officers, firefighters and other public safety professionals for going above and beyond the call of duty.Channel 2′s Steve Gehlbach was at the Gwinnett County Valor Awards ceremony, where first responders were honored for their heroic, lifesaving actions.Those honored included a communications officer who took a 911 call from a domestic violence victim and helped save her life after she was shot and officers who helped respond to an active shooter outside the county jail.[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]It’s the 20th year that the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce presented the honors, recognizing not only those who protect and serve but those went above and beyond in life-threatening situations.“With no tourniquet available, Officer Etienne resourcefully used a belt as a makeshift solution,” Sgt. Gregory Ross said, presenting a life-saving award to Officer Feniel Etienne, a senior officer with the Lilburn Police Department.TRENDING STORIES:Etienne was off-duty when a gunman shot someone at a Suwanee automotive shop. He immediately jumped into action.“Happy to be there and able to serve somebody,” he said.The top award, the gold medal for valor, went to five sheriff’s deputies for dealing with an active shooter at the jail in October.A man in body armor showed up at the jail’s entrance with his two-year-old daughter, acting erratically. Deputies identified the potential threat as he returned the child to his car and got a shotgun out.Eventually, the man opened fire at officers with a handgun and they fired back, hitting him.“Their courage under fire and commitment to protecting lives prevented what could have easily been a mass tragedy,” Ross said at the ceremony.The deputies said that “we just came together that day,” calling it a true team effort as other deputies and jail staff locked down inside and got visitors and others out of harm’s way.The gunman from the shooting recovered and is in custody at the jail, facing multiple charges including aggravated assault against law enforcement officers.[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]©2025 Cox Media Group

Whether responding to a medical emergency, coordinating disaster relief, or ensuring officer safety in high-risk situations, public safety radio systems provide mission-critical communications that enable first responders to fulfill their missions.What does it take to ensure these systems remain functional, interoperable and adequately funded?This special episode of the Better Every Shift podcast, sponsored by Kenwood, features a panel discussion on public safety radio systems. Guest host FireRescue1 Editorial Director Greg Friese speaks with three emergency management and communications experts about the vital role of radio communications in emergency response, the obstacles agencies face in maintaining and upgrading these systems, and best practices for building a reliable network that meets the demands of modern public safety.Chris Tucker is the Emergency Services Director/CEM for Warren County Emergency Services in North Carolina. Warren County Emergency Services operates radio systems for four EMS stations, 15 fire stations and the Sheriff’s Department. He is also a volunteer fire chief. Tom Murray is radio manager for Will County Emergency Management Agency in Will County, Illinois. The radio system he manages has over 5,000 subscribers across approximately 80 public safety agencies. Chris Shaneyfelt, a retired law enforcement officer, is director of Randolph County Homeland Security Emergency Management and Randolph County E911 Emergency Communications Center in Indiana. His agencies dispatch for 11 police departments, 10 fire departments and one standalone EMS agency.Tune in to discover:

The importance of reliable radio communication systems for emergency response.Challenges in funding and maintaining radio systems, especially in rural areas.The pros and cons of state-managed versus county-managed radio systems.Key considerations when evaluating and selecting a public safety radio system.Advice for securing funding and engaging stakeholders in the decision-making process.This episode is sponsored by KENWOOD, a trusted leader in public safety communications. KENWOOD ATLAS P25 Systems provide reliable, secure, and flexible solutions for mission-critical operations, ensuring seamless interoperability across agencies. Combined with KENWOOD Viking P25 radios, first responders get the clarity, durability and advanced features they need to stay connected and operational in any situation.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, Chief Josh Waldo and Chief Marc Bashoor offer potential solutions that would accommodate both training and program reviews

March 11, 2025 11:00 AM

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In 2024 Nye County authorized a temporary interfund loan of $5.78 million from its Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Fund (LATCF) grant to the county general fund and with that loan now repaid, it was a good time for an update on the status of the grant fund as a whole.
Nye County Contracts and Grants Manager Stephani Elliott provided a presentation on the LATCF during the Nye County Commission’s Tuesday, March 18 meeting. She began with a briefing on the background of the grant program, which was authorized by the U.S. Treasury in 2022 as part of the American Rescue Plan. By June 2023, the county had received its entire $12 million allocation and has earmarked roughly half for various projects. The $5.78 million that has recently been repaid to the LATCF grant fund now awaits the decision of the Nye County Commission on how it will be spent.
As to any potential time limit, Elliott said there is no deadline attached to the LATCF funding. But with President Donald Trump shaking up the grants’ scene, it may be a good idea to act on allocating the remaining funds sooner rather than later.
“The word of caution is, we have a new federal administration that is looking at items of this nature. We have already received this funding so at this point, there are doubts that it could be requested back,” Elliott noted. “However, I am required to do an annual update and report to the U.S. Treasury indicating how much we’ve obligated as well as spent. So, I would say, anything right now with the word ‘grant’ is on the table. But for the moment, we do not have an actual expiration date.”
“In real-world terms, I am aware of grants that have been reversed,” commission chair Ron Boskovich chimed in.
Elliott replied that one benefit of the LATCF program is that the grant allocation is not on a reimbursement basis, as many other grants are.
“We’ve got the money in the bank. That’s the good news,” she stated.
Due to the reference to Native American tribes in the title of the funding program, there has been some confusion among the community as to why the county was not giving a portion of its $12 million to tribes located within its boundaries. Elliott clarified that the LATCF consists of two distinct parts, one for revenue-sharing counties and another for tribal nations, which were able to apply for the grant funding on their own behalf.
“This was our piece of it and I am aware that one of our local tribes did receive LATCF funding,” Elliott said.
When originally addressing potential project submissions for utilizing the money, the county saw more than $34 million in funding requests, far in excess of the amount available. Using a ranking system and personal preference as a guide, the Nye County Commission ultimately selected projects ranging from catching up on deferred facilities maintenance and upgrading the county’s public safety communications microwave system to new vehicle purchases, seed money for a new county facilities management key system and a small allotment for Beatty’s Revert Park. These totaled around $6.2 million of the total $12 million in LATCF dollars.
Since the project selections were made, Elliott said there have been a few adjustments made due to a deadline associated with another of the county’s grant sources, its American Rescue Plan dollars.
“We had $3.2 million allocated to the public safety upgrade and we ended up reallocating those funds to the ARPA budget,” Elliott detailed. “We had existing contracts, we were properly able to allocate the funding, so that Nye County was not at risk of losing that funding. What we have in response to that is, $2.73 million of originally funded ARPA projects that are now being funded through the LATCF funding… We have now added [to the LATCF projects] the community/civics center at $2.4 million and the Tonopah Childcare Development has been added for $300,000.”
Of the $6.2 million allocated, about $2 million has been spent to date, leaving $4.2 million in funds awaiting expenditure.
Nye County officials told the Pahrump Valley Times that a date has not yet been set for commissioners to determine which projects will be chosen for funding through the remaining $5.78 million.
To view the LATCF presentation in full, visit NyeCountyNV.gov and click on “Meeting Center”. The presentation is included as part of item #9 on the commission’s Tuesday, March 18 agenda.
Contact reporter Robin Hebrock at rhebrock@pvtimes.com

WASHINGTON — The recent suspension of all in-person training at the National Fire Academy (NFA) in Emmitsburg, Maryland, has drawn widespread criticism and concern from fire service leaders, former U.S. fire administrators and dozens of members of the U.S. Congress, who warn that the decision undermines firefighter preparedness and public safety.Fire administrators and superintendents speak outIn a letter addressed to Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, former USFA administrators and NFA superintendents expressed deep concern over FEMA’s decision to halt training. They stressed that the NFA plays a critical role in developing fire service leadership, equipping firefighters with the skills necessary to manage disasters ranging from large-scale fires to hazardous materials incidents.The letter emphasized that the NFA has historically operated as the “American fire service war college,” providing vital leadership training comparable to military institutions. The signatories urged FEMA to reverse course immediately, arguing that without these programs, the fire service risks losing crucial training that enhances response capabilities nationwide.

Goldfeder, Bashoor, Moore-Merrell, Leeb and other U.S. fire service leaders urge reaching out to elected officials about the importance of National Fire Academy programs

March 09, 2025 09:50 PM · 

Fire and EMS organizations call for reinstatementAside from the plea from former federal leaders, 32 fire and emergency service organizations, including FireRescue1, also joined the push for the academy’s reopening. In a separate letter to Secretary Noem, the coalition emphasized that programs like the NFA, as well as the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs, are essential to public safety. The letter warned that cutting or suspending these initiatives could strain already underfunded fire departments, impacting their ability to protect communities.Adding to concerns, the suspension of NFA training has also disrupted related programs at state fire academies, further compounding the loss of educational opportunities for fire service personnel. Fire officials say the pause in training threatens to create a knowledge gap that could have long-term consequences for fire departments nationwide.

In a letter to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, the coalition emphasized the critical role of the NFA in supporting public safety, national security, emergency response, disaster preparedness and hazardous materials management. They highlighted that the NFA’s programs and personnel are vital in ensuring that first responders can deliver timely and effective emergency medical care during both routine incidents and large-scale disasters.In addition to concerns over the NFA closures, fire and EMS organizations also addressed a separate letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., urging continued support for essential programs such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP) and the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer. The letter stressed that these programs play a critical role in firefighter and EMS health and safety by investigating line-of-duty deaths and collecting data on occupational cancer risks. Fire service leaders warned that weakening these initiatives could have long-term consequences, as they provide essential research and policy guidance that help prevent firefighter fatalities and illnesses.Congressional letter urges reopening While former fire administrators and industry organizations have taken the lead in calling for the immediate reinstatement of NFA courses, a bipartisan group of lawmakers also weighed in. Representatives Lisa McClain (R-MI) and John Delaney (D-MD) sent a letter to FEMA and DHS officials underscoring the importance of the academy’s training. They cited data from Fiscal Year 2023, when over 40,000 firefighters attended NFA courses, with 90% of supervisors reporting improved emergency response capabilities as a result.

The legislators emphasized that the NFA serves as the “American fire service war college,” providing critical training and education to tens of thousands of career and volunteer firefighters nationwide. They highlighted that the academy’s programs are instrumental in advancing the professional development of fire service personnel, as mandated by the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974.

The urgent call for actionWith fire service leaders, former administrators, EMS organizations, and national associations aligned in their demand for reinstatement, the message is clear: The National Fire Academy’s training programs are not expendable. Fire officials warn that every day without these courses represents a setback for emergency preparedness, leaving firefighters and EMS personnel without the leadership and technical skills they need to protect their communities.As fire officials and organizations continue to push for the reinstatement of in-person training at the NFA, all eyes remain on how the new DHS secretary will respond to the mounting pressure from fire service advocates.

Fire Captain Joe Hunter and Fire Lieutenant Chrissy Sarnowsky bring their firefighting skills and resilience to the latest season of CBS’s ‘Survivor.’

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A firefighter battling a fire in Brooklyn suffered a medical emergency while working on the roof of a four-story building

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Dedicated professionals prepared to serve Kentuckians and support law enforcement in times of need

FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 21, 2025) — Today, Gov. Andy Beshear and the Kentucky State Police (KSP) announced the graduation of 17 telecommunicators from the KSP Telecommunications Academy. These individuals have been assigned to 10 posts across the state, where they will answer the call of service by providing critical communication support to Kentuckians and law enforcement agencies.

“Today, you embark on a commendable journey of public service, one that will provide light in the darkness to so many Kentuckians in their times of greatest need,” Gov. Beshear said. “Thank you for being committed to creating a new Kentucky home with safer communities and helping ensure our officers have the information they need to respond to emergencies.”

KSP telecommunicators are responsible for dispatching state troopers, commercial vehicle enforcement officers, conservation officers and other emergency service agencies. Last year alone, they answered over 1.2 million calls, leading to more than 406,000 requests for assistance.

“Public safety will be strengthened thanks to the crucial function each of these graduates will provide as telecommunicators,” said KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. “It is an honor to welcome them to our agency, where they will serve as the vital link between the public and emergency responders.”

The graduates of Class 25 completed 160 hours of instruction over four weeks, covering essential topics such as legal liability, telecommunicator authority limits, their role in public safety, interpersonal communications, customer service, stress management and PTSD, ethics and confidentiality, responder safety, basic fire dispatch, emergency operation plans, criminal justice information systems, first aid and emergency medical dispatch.

Throughout their training, the graduates were required to successfully process scripted emergency calls, demonstrate their ability to gather and relay critical information, dispatch first responders efficiently, and provide emergency medical dispatch instructions when necessary. The academy concluded with a simulation designed to replicate real-life dispatch scenarios.

Class 25 graduates and their assigned posts are:

Seth Cummins, Post 1, Mayfield

Kelsey Davidson, Post 1, Mayfield

Ethan Crick, Post 2, Madisonville

John Kierman, Post 3, Bowling Green

Malak Salman, Post 3, Bowling Green

Breanna Sexton, Post 3, Bowling Green

Ethan Duke, Post 4, Elizabethtown

Ryleigh Stewart, Post 6, Dry Ridge

James Matthews, Post 7, Richmond

Connor Motley, Post 8, Morehead

Farrah Combs, Post 13, Hazard

Weston Hollon, Post 13, Hazard

Tristen Turner, Post 13, Hazard

Steve Waddell, Post 13, Hazard

Kendall Benningfield, Post 15, Columbia

Ryan Engle, Post 15, Columbia

Makenzie Guthrie, Post 16, Henderson

The Charlotte Tanner Valedictorian Award is presented to the graduate who earned the highest GPA and demonstrated extraordinary effort during the KSP Telecommunications Academy. The award is named in honor of the founder of the KSP telecommunications program, Charlotte Tanner, who served the commonwealth for more than 50 years as a telecommunicator, radio room supervisor and instructor.

This year’s Charlotte Tanner Valedictorian Award has been awarded to Seth Cummins from Post 1 with a grade point average of 100%.

The mission of KSP is to promote public safety through service, integrity and professionalism using partnerships to prevent, reduce and deter crime and the fear of crime, enhance highway safety through education and enforcement, safeguard property and protect individual rights.

The agency is continuing to recruit interested individuals to join Team Kentucky and provide critical assistance and assurance to their neighbors and loved ones. To apply for a telecommunicator position with KSP, click here or contact the KSP post nearest you for more information.

Editor’s note: identification (left to right, front row to back row) Kelsey Davidson, Malak Salman, Breanna Sexton, Ryleigh Stewart, James Matthews, Kendall Benningfield, Farrah Combs, Makenzie Guthrie, Seth Cummins, Ryan Engle, Tristen Turner, John Kierman, Weston Hollon, Steve Waddel, Ethan Duke, Connor Motley and Ethan Crick

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CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — Charleston County 911 has strengthened their emergency response this week by upgrading their call handling capabilities. The Charleston County Consolidated Emergency Communications Center adopted new, more advanced call handling software that aims to improve emergency response for both the public and first responders.The upgrades include several key features that will increase efficiency and situational awareness, including: Voice to Text – Call takers will receive a real-time text transcription of the caller’s spoken words, improving accuracy and efficiency.Translation – This feature allows for seamless communication with non-English-speaking callers by automatically translating conversations in real time.Triage – The system prioritizes emergency calls, ensuring that simultaneous incidents, such as multiple calls about the same crash, do not delay responses to other emergencies.Location Services – If a caller’s location is not automatically transmitted, call takers can send a link to obtain precise handset coordinates. If the caller accepts the link, the call taker will temporarily have access to the caller’s exact location.Images and Video – Callers can share live images and video with the ECC, offering critical visual information to support response efforts.Responder Link – Call takers can transmit received images and videos directly to first responders in the field, enhancing situational awareness.READ MORE | Man killed in Moncks Corner train crash crossed safety bars: Preliminary reportIn addition, Charleston County has partnered with Carbyne to integrate the new system, alongside RapidDeploy Radius Mapping, which provides additional benefits, including:Access to caller-provided emergency data, such as preferred language and medical information.Outbound text messaging capabilities for two-way communication with 9-1-1 callers.Instant messaging between 9-1-1 centers for seamless information sharing.Crash data from OnStar, Bosch, and other vehicle safety services.Enhanced alarm data from security companies.“This new system represents a major advancement in how we handle emergency calls,” said Charleston County ECC Director Jim Lake. “By improving accuracy, communication, and situational awareness, it helps ensure that people in crisis get the help they need as quickly as possible. Our telecommunicators and first responders rely on clear and timely information, and these tools will make a real difference in their ability to respond effectively.”