by AllThingsECC.com | Mar 22, 2025 | Comm Center News
CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) – The Charleston County Consolidated Emergency Communications Center has adopted a new and more advanced call-handling software that improves emergency responses from the public and first responders.
The dispatch software, the Carbyne Apex Call Handling Solution, will introduce six features that increase situational awareness:
- Images and Video: Callers will be able to share live images and videos with the ECC.
- Location Services: Dispatchers will be able to send a link to obtain the exact coordinates of the caller’s location if their location is not automatically transmitted. Dispatchers will have temporary access to their exact location once the caller accepts the link.
- Responder Link: Dispatchers can transmit both received images and videos to first responders on the field.
- Translation: Allows seamless communication with non-English speaking callers by transmitting conversations in real time.
- Triage: Focuses on emergency calls and ensures that simultaneous incidents do not get delayed by other emergency calls.
- Voice to Text: Dispatchers will receive real-time text transcription of what the caller says over the phone.
Charleston County spokesperson Chloe Field said the Charleston County ECC has teamed up with Carbyne to integrate the new system alongside RapidDeploy Radius Mapping, which is a platform that provides several key benefits that include:
- Access to caller-provided emergency data.
- Crash data from Bosch, OnStar and other vehicle safety services
- Enhanced alarm data from security companies
- Instant messaging between 911 centers for information sharing
- Outbound text message capabilities for two-way communication with 911 callers
ECC Director Jim Lake said the new system will improve effective communication to ensure callers will get the necessary help as quickly as possible.
“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,” he said.
Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.
by AllThingsECC.com | Mar 22, 2025 | Comm Center News
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.
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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.
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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.
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by AllThingsECC.com | Mar 22, 2025 | Comm Center News
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.
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by AllThingsECC.com | Mar 22, 2025 | Comm Center News
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
by AllThingsECC.com | Mar 22, 2025 | Comm Center News
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 out
In 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.
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Fire and EMS organizations call for reinstatement
Aside 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 action
With 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.
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