911 dispatcher accused of distributing child pornography (FL)

911 dispatcher accused of distributing child pornography (FL)

Cover picture for the article

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (WKRC/WJXT/CNN Newsource) – A sheriff’s dispatcher is facing federal charges after he was accused of distributing child pornography.

The FBI released an affidavit Friday involving a complaint of child porn distribution by a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office dispatcher named Scott Matthew Yotka.

News4Jax crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson is a former sex crimes detective for the sheriff’s office… READ MORE

Grand Rapids Police Department seeks state accreditation (MI)

Grand Rapids Police Department seeks state accreditation (MI)

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A team of assessors from the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission will arrive in Grand Rapids on Thursday, Sept. 30 to “examine all aspects of the Grand Rapids Police Department’s policies, procedures, management, operations and support services.”

If the agency achieves MLEAC accreditation, it will be the fourth such program for the department, according to a news release Monday.

Chief Eric Payne says he’s confident GRPD will exceed MLEAC’s “best practice” standards…

The Rocky Road to a More Robust 911 System | The Crime Report

The Rocky Road to a More Robust 911 System | The Crime Report

911 dispatcher. Photo by Scary Side of Earth via Flickr

Underfunding and understaffing cripple 911 call centers across the country, and increase the likelihood that incomplete or inaccurate information will trigger a fatal response from police,  according to researchers.

Harold Pollack, co-director of the Transform 911 project, said the lack of resources was complicated by the fact that emergency dispatch centers often aren’t on “equal footing” with law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency medical services — a disparity that further undermines their effectiveness.

An average 911 call lasts about ten minutes — not nearly enough time to talk a caller through a mental health crisis, he said…

Indiana Man Arrested for Repeatedly Calling 911 to ‘State That He Was Tired’ Police Say

An Indiana man has been arrested for allegedly calling the 911 emergency line repeatedly, just to tell dispatchers that he was “tired.”

Police arrested Daniel Schroeder on Thursday after the 61-year-old resident of Evansville, Indiana allegedly called 911 four times.

“The male caller kept calling in stating that he was tired,” a police report detailing the man’s arrest said.

Schroeder’s arrest came one day after he pleaded guilty to a previous charge of misusing the 911 system. Police arrested Schroeder on the night of September 11 after he called 911 to express his anger that a female relative “was not following his rules.” …

The first first responders need help: Deschutes 911 seeks to hire more dispatchers (OR)

The first first responders need help: Deschutes 911 seeks to hire more dispatchers (OR)

They answer the call 24/7, even during a hiring squeeze

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — “911 — what is the address of your emergency?” a Deschutes County dispatcher asked Friday — a famous line we recognize and rely on, 24/7. The trustworthy ring and assurance that help will soon be on the way.

On the surface, 911 dispatchers are a calm voice in the dark for many — but they serve our community in great, unseen ways.

The 911 call-takers function as the first first responders. They answer calls all day — many of which save lives.

Deschutes County 911 gets 1,000-1,200 calls per day. If there are eight employees, that means they could answer 150 calls a day — each…