August 5, 2025 Submitted by The South Shore Regional Emergency Communications Center
Executive Director Aaron Smith reports that the South Shore Regional Emergency Communications Center (SSRECC) was affected by an apparent cyberattack targeting one of its member communities, which brought down the center’s computer-aided dispatch software for most of the day this past Saturday.
And that’s before police or fire show up.
“Absolutely – any dispatcher who has taken a call from someone in need will tell you we are the first first-responder,” said Jamy Inglett, the Training & Compliance Supervisor for the City of Edmond’s Emergency Communications team. “We are usually the first point of contact in emergency situations – 911 – and we have to work with police, fire and medical to make sure we get the help that is needed headed that way.”
St. Cloud’s commitment to public safety has once again received international recognition. The St. Cloud Police Department’s 911 Communications Center has successfully renewed its accreditations as an Emergency Medical, Fire, and Police Dispatch Center of Excellence through the Board of Accreditation of the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch.
Communications Workers of America Files Lawsuit Alleging Violations of New Jersey Equal Pay Act Against Camden County
CAMDEN COUNTY, NJ – The Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1014, representing 1,600 public service employees working for Camden County including over 150 911 operators, today filed a lawsuit against Camden County, alleging systemic violations of the New Jersey Diane B. Allen Equal Pay Act (EPA). The complaint accuses the County of paying female and minority employees less than male or non‑minority peers who perform the same work.
I’ve been a paramedic and firefighter for more than 30 years, and I’ve seen firsthand how reliable communications impact response times and critical care. Now amid Florida’s hurricane season, communication is more important than ever.
In 2011, a deadly tornado struck Wake County, North Carolina, where I lived and worked. At the time, I was an incident commander responsible for leading and managing all safety aspects of the tornado. I was facing my worst nightmare: poor communication. Commercial networks were overloaded, and I wasn’t able to contact other first responders. Response efforts were difficult until I could talk in person, a feat nearly impossible during a tornado.
