Visalia civic center price tag triples to $70M. Councilman calls the figure ‘mind-blowing’ (CA)

Visalia civic center price tag triples to $70M. Councilman calls the figure ‘mind-blowing’ (CA)

The Visalia Police & Fire Honor Guard raises the flag on the City's new Emergency Communications Center on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 during the ribbon cutting ceremony. Council members are now considering Phase 2 of the Civic Center project, which has nearly tripled in cost to $70 million.

Members of the Visalia City Council expressed sticker shock at the projected cost of the next phase of its long-planned Civic Center project.

Total costs of Phase 2 of the project, which includes a Public Safety Office Building, evidence lab, and new City Council chambers, will cost up to $70 million, nearly triple the $25 million price tag the council heard at its last major update on the project in August.

Councilman Brett Taylor called the revised figure “mind-blowing” at a recent council meeting. The freshman council member suggested a “second set of eyes” to review the dramatic price tag and compare it to what other local agencies are paying…

Emergency dispatchers: Unseen, but not unheard (OH)

Emergency dispatchers: Unseen, but not unheard (OH)

When a 911 call is placed, the odds are good that it is one of the most — if not the most — traumatic days of the caller’s life.

It is a reality that is not lost on the person on the other end of the phone in the dispatch room, who may be dealing with a caller who is just a little worked up, or who is yelling and screaming.

The crucial role that dispatchers play in law enforcement is celebrated every year during the second week of April, which is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week…

Rockingham County Emergency Services honors 911 Dispatchers during National Public Safety Telecommunicators week (NC)

Rockingham County Emergency Services honors 911 Dispatchers during National Public Safety Telecommunicators week (NC)

This week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, honoring the work in our communities that too often can be taken for granted.”Emergency Services does not operate without 911 telecommunicators,” said Rockingham County Emergency Services Director Rodney Cates. “Every time you see an emergency response, like firetruck with lights, EMS units, a police car or rescue squad, all of those are initiated from the 911 center.”Cates calls the 911 center employees the *first* first responders. “They are the hub of the emergency response system,” Cates said.Rockingham County dispatchers take approximately 500 calls every day and dispatched more than 132,000 emergency calls in 2021…

Brentwood celebrates National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (TN)

Brentwood celebrates National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (TN)

The City of Brentwood and the state of Tennessee are celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, per a press release.

The week, sponsored by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and celebrated annually, honors the thousands of men and women who respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance to the world’s citizens, per the release…

Hastings celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NE)

Hastings celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NE)

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) – This week, Hastings is celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunicators week, to honor the men and women who serve as dispatchers at Hastings PD.

The role of a dispatcher is a critical one, as they’re the first person people talk to when they dial 9-1-1 with an emergency.

“We answer the calls, send help when help is needed, talk people through things on the phone, but a lot of time the dispatchers are the ones that are forgotten,” said Julie Hallett, the Director of Communications for Hastings PD…