Police agencies in San Diego County move toward encryption of scanner traffic (CA)

Police agencies in San Diego County move toward encryption of scanner traffic (CA)

When gunshots ring out in a neighborhood, a police scanner can come in handy. News reporters listen to scanner traffic to piece together what is happening. Sometimes residents tune in via cellphone apps.

Now, more and more, that source of information is being cut off. Most law enforcement agencies in San Diego County have encrypted or will encrypt their radio communications, limiting access to real-time information about crimes and other public safety matters…

Ionia County hires Central Dispatch director (MI)

IONIA — Ionia County is bringing in an experienced candidate to serve as its next director of Central Dispatch.

The Ionia County Board of Commissioners voted 6-0 Tuesday, July 13, to hire Lance Langdon as the next leader of its emergency response center. Langdon formerly served in the same position in Ingham County before retiring and most recently worked in retail as an assistant manager.

“We interviewed three people and unanimously decided that Lance Langdon was the person for the job,” District Two Commissioner Larry Tiejema said Tuesday. “He has a number of years of experience as a 911 director of Ingham County. He helped to consolidate a number of 911s into one unified 911.” …

Cobb County E911 Emergency Department accredited for seventh time (GA)

Cobb County E911 Emergency Department accredited for seventh time (GA)

Cobb County E911 Director Melissa Alterio announced in a news release on the Cobb County website that her department was accredited for the seventh time by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA).

Cobb County E911 was first accredited by CALEA in 2002. Reassessments are conducted every four years.

According to the news release, “Only approximately one percent of over 8,500 communications agencies nationwide can claim the recognition of being a CALEA accredited communications agency.”

Due to the COVID-18 pandemic, the reassessment was conducted virtually on July 15…

911 Budget Includes Pay For 18 Full-Time Dispatchers (TN)

A 2021-22 budget that includes salaries and benefits for 18 full-time dispatchers was approved Tuesday by the Greene County 911 Board of Directors.

Estimates of how much it would cost to fund 16 and 21 full-time dispatchers were also provided by 911 Director Jerry Bird at the request of board members.

Filling open dispatcher positions in the competitive job market was also discussed. The board revised a long-standing policy of not hiring “immediate family members of telecommunicators” to permit hiring relatives as one way of addressing a shortage of qualified candidates…

Crawford County 911 dispatch services consolidation progress continues (AR)

Crawford County 911 dispatch services consolidation progress continues (AR)

Kibler Mayor Gary O'Kelley, right, listens as Crawford County Judge Dennis Gilstrap discusses the new budget for the county's consolidated 911 service during the Intergovernmental Council meeting held July 13 in Van Buren.

Progress continues to be made toward the final goal of consolidating 911 dispatch services in Crawford County.

After welcoming new 911 Communications Director Joanie Best at the end of June, Crawford County Judge Dennis Gilstrap presented the new consolidated budget as well as a Memorandum of Understanding for Operation of 911 Emergency and Dispatch Center to area mayors in attendance at the July 13 Intergovernmental Council meeting held at the county’s Department of Emergency Management Building…