MARTINSBURG — Jen Swisher, 9-1-1 Director, came before the Berkeley County Council on Thursday to give an emergency communications update after her first year in the position and to recognize dispatchers who assisted citizens in delivering their babies.
According to statistics presented by Swisher, the total number of 911 calls dispatched increased by less than 1,000 calls from the 2019-20 year to 2020-21 — 69,234 to 70,175.
The large increase in calls, Swisher said, came from Interstate 81, a hot topic among officials throughout the county. In 2019-20, there were 4,898 calls processed for the interstate with 6,164 calls for 2020-21. That equates to approximately 17 calls a day…
The car was found just a few hours after the alert was issued, with the 1-year-old safe inside.
Once 911 dispatchers realized there was a language barrier with the owners of the vehicle, they used one of their two language interpretation service companies they’re contracted with…
VANCOUVER — As winter weather approaches, North Vancouver RCMP emergency dispatcher Jodie Cohan is encouraging all British Columbians, especially those who venture into the backcountry, to download geolocation technology called What3Words.
The free app divides the world into three-metre squares and assigns each with a unique combination of three random words, which allows first responders to pinpoint the exact location of an emergency.
North Vancouver RCMP implemented the technology last year. Cohan said they were the first RCMP service in Canada to begin using the app…
BANGOR — When you call for help, 911 dispatchers are often the first ones to be notified about a problem. Dispatchers said the job can take a toll on your mental health.
“911 what’s the address of your emergency?”
The Penobscot Regional Communications Center is a public safety answering point facility responsible for receiving and dispatching 911 calls for 66 agencies in Penobscot, Aroostook and Hancock counties…
“Right shoulder,” a deputy could be heard saying to a 911 dispatcher. “…gunshot…”
Static noise covered some of the words of the deputy describing the condition of a man injured in a shooting at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds on Sep. 19 to the dispatcher.
Kitsap County’s 911 dispatch center offers up that static noise as evidence of its aging emergency radio system, which leaders say needs to be replaced by 2028 to remain in use, and they say additional sales tax is what they can do to fund the project.
Kitsap 911, or CenCom, employs dispatchers to collect key information in calls with law enforcement, fire departments and individuals who dial 911. As the population grows, it is becoming harder for dispatchers to communicate smoothly with first responders and residents in some areas of the county…
Learn about current efforts to continue to protect the 4.9 GHz Band for public safety as well as recent filings, key decisions impacting these efforts, and how you can support PSSA’s initiative to protect the 4.9 GHz band for public safety.
