Fire, police and EMS agencies, as well as local governments, share their appreciation for emergency dispatchers during the 2023 recognition week
Despite their federal classification as “office and administrative support occupations,” emergency dispatchers are the first line of defense during what could be the worst moment in a person’s life.
9-1-1 serves at the nexus of public safety communications—which is why the 9-1-1 community has always been important to our work at the FirstNet Authority.
A prominent leader in the 9-1-1 community—Renee Gordon, Director of the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) in the City of Alexandria, Virginia—recently joined the FirstNet Authority Board. Renee has led some particularly innovative efforts in remote 9-1-1 operations and in regionalizing ECCs. We asked Renee about the current and future state of 9-1-1, the role of FirstNet in the ECC, and her priorities while serving on the FirstNet Authority Board.
A scandal is unfolding at the Bexar County Sheriffs Office involving sexually explicit text messages which could involve as many as seven law enforcement officers and a married dispatcher. The dispatcher, a sergeant and one deputy are already facing proposed termination.
Dispatch officers are used to getting all types of calls, ranging anywhere from a car crash to a house fire.
However, if you ask anyone of them who worked on Monday, March 27, that day will never compare to anything they have ever experienced.
A dispatcher with the Austin Police Department was able to lead officers to the scene of a homicide by using the sound of the officer’s voices becoming louder on a 911 call, according to a Travis County murder affidavit.
