{KXLG -Roberts County, SD} South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley congratulates the 20 students who will graduate from the state Basic Telecommunicator Certification Course on Friday. Including Katerina Lykins from the Roberts County Sheriff’s Office and Janie Luper from the South Dakota State University Police.
These students represent 15 different law enforcement or communication centers statewide, and Friday’s graduation will complete a two-week course for them.
“These new telecommunicators will be among the first voices people hear when they call 911 with an emergency,” said Attorney General Jackley, who will be the guest speaker at Friday’s graduation. “Their role is invaluable since they are the ones who relay emergency information to first responders.”
The two-week course includes training and hands-on exercises on issues such as public safety telecommunications, how to respond to questions from the caller, how to handle both emergency and non-emergency calls for service, and how to prioritize multiple incidents at once.
The members of the 74th session of the Basic Telecommunicator Certification Course and their law enforcement organization are:
– Bailee Ackerman, Butte County Sheriff’s Office.
– McKenzie Bachmann, Winner Police Department.
– Amber Ball, Spearfish Police Department.
– Parker DeRouchey, Meade County Sheriff’s Office.
– Collette Fickbohm, Butte County Sheriff’s Office.
– Colette Habbena, Spink County Sheriff’s Office.
– Brooke Jensen, Edmunds County Sheriff’s Office.
– Katelyn Keller, Mobridge Police Department.
– Samantha Kruger, Metro Communications.
– Emelia Larsen, Pennington County Emergency Services Communication Center.
– Gina Nenstiel, Spearfish Police Department.
– Kevin Oberbroeckling, Charles Mix County 911 Sheriff’s Office.
– David Petrick, Charles Mix County 911 Sheriff’s Office.
– Ashley Pinkelman, Clay Area Emergency Communications.
– Julia Pittman, Huron Department Public Safety/State Radio.
– Shanden Reiners, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
– Madeline Schreier, Metro Communications.
– Joseph Stiegel, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.
Instructors for the course were staff from the state Division of Criminal Investigation’s Office of Law Enforcement Training, part of the Attorney General’s Office; experienced 911 telecommunicators from across the state; and public safety stakeholders. Friday’s graduation starts at 3:30 p.m. in the George S. Mickelson Criminal Justice Center in Pierre.
Pettis County GIS Director James Theisen was awarded Information Technologist of the Year by the Missouri Public Safety Communications Conference (MPSCC). This recognition reflects Theisen’s dedication and contributions to the field of emergency communications.
Having served Pettis County for over three decades, Theisen has demonstrated unwavering commitment and expertise in his role as GIS Director. His approach and technological prowess have significantly enhanced the efficiency and effectiveness of public safety communications systems throughout the region. Director Theisen also serves as the Commission representative on the Pettis County Joint Communications 911 Advisory Board.
In light of this achievement, Presiding Commissioner Bill Taylor remarked, “The Commission appreciates all of James’s hard work and he is well deserving of this honor.”
The Pettis County Commission extends its heartfelt congratulations to James Theisen on this well-deserved honor and looks forward to his continued contributions.
Poughkeepsie, NY… Dutchess County’s ambitious Consolidated Two-Way Radio System Project received a significant boost last week with a $3 million grant award from the New York Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services’ (DHSES) Interoperable Communications Targeted Grant program. County Executive Sue Serino announced the $3 million award will help offset the County’s costs as the Department of Emergency Response continues to facilitate the construction of a new interoperable, countywide public-safety radio network that will increase reliability and eliminate coverage gaps in radio communications among first responders.
The County’s Consolidated Two-Way Radio System Project is projected to cost $32 million in total. The Dutchess County Legislature unanimously authorized more than $18 million in serial bonds to fund the project. Additionally, the County has utilized American Rescue Program (ARP) funds and other state and federal funding sources to partially offset project costs. The new $3 million grant from New York State will help reduce the amount the County will need to secure through bonding, saving Dutchess an estimated $357,000 annually in principal, interest and fees.
County Executive Serino said, “In an emergency, seconds count, especially when trying to coordinate help between responding agencies and lives are potentially on the line. Our commitment to ensuring public safety hinges on first responders’ ability to communicate the details of an emergency quickly to be able to coordinate an efficient, response between agencies. Our Emergency Response team’s work on this challenging and complex project has put Dutchess County at the forefront in the state for addressing these critical communications challenges. We appreciate Governor Hochul and the DHSES recognizing this work and providing additional support for this critical investment.”
The grant will help purchase a Project 25 (P25) digital radio system, which once installed will help bring multiple agencies into a single emergency radio communications system, ensuring smooth, direct communication between Dutchess County first responders as well surrounding counties’ agencies and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department. In addition to improving communication between agencies and disciplines (fire, emergency medical services and law enforcement), the P25 system will significantly improve communications coverage across the County, increase system resiliency and incorporate emerging technologies.
Emergency Response Commissioner Dana Smith said, “Emergency communications infrastructure is critical to preventing gaps in coverage that could prove fatal in an emergency. Once complete, our new radio system will be used by every EMS, fire and law enforcement agency in the county, creating both cost savings and greater interoperability between our 9-1-1 center and the various agencies.”
P25 is a set of standards—established by the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials International (APCO), the National Association of State Telecommunications Directors (NASTD), federal agencies, and the National Communications System (NCS), and standardized under the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)—manufacturers can follow to ensure their equipment can communicate with equipment produced by other manufacturers.
The County’s radio project, which began in 2022, has included the identification, design and construction of 19 additional radio tower sights throughout Dutchess County. It is anticipated that construction of these sites, as well as installation of equipment, will begin later this year, with testing scheduled for late 2025.
Dutchess County was one of eight counties to be awarded funding through the New York State 2023 Statewide Interoperable Communications Targeted Grant Program. The program focuses on closing gaps in National Interoperability channels implementation and enhancing regional alliance, ensuring that county communication systems remain capable to support multijurisdictional response.
BARNSTABLE – Amid major increases in emergency call volumes, the Barnstable County Sheriff’s office is planning expansions to its 911 Regional Emergency Communications Center.
The center has been in operation on Joint Base Cape Cod since 2007, handling calls for the majority of fire departments in the region, according to the department.
With rising operational costs and staffing challenges, utilizing a larger regional dispatch that can be shared among even more communities has become more attractive in recent years, says Sheriff Donna Buckley.
“It is my goal to expand our existing capacity by enlarging the dispatch center, so we can accommodate as many new departments as possible,” Buckley said.
Two new additions to the department’s staff will assist in the effort. Deputy Chief of Communications Tom Ashe has been promoted to Chief of Emergency Communications and David Zack has been hired to serve as Director of Emergency Communications.
There’s no timeline yet on when a new center could be up and running, but Buckley said they have made significant progress in determining what kind of space they would need to potentially serve the region at large.
Community Project Funding for water infrastructure, public safety, libraries, workforce development, and more in the Fourth District included in FY 2024 federal government funding package
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) announced $15,217,036 in Community Project Funding that she has worked to secure for Minnesota’s Fourth District in the Fiscal Year 2024 spending bills that passed the House today. These projects were included in H. Res. 1061,legislation that establishes federal funding for multiple agencies across six Appropriations bills: Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration; Commerce, Justice, and Science; Energy and Water; Transportation, Housing and Urban Development; Interior and Environment; and Veterans Affairs and Military Construction. Her vote to pass this first of two anticipated Appropriations government funding packages for FY 2024 will allow federal resources to be directly invested in some of the most pressing needs in the East Metro. Congress must now act by March 22 to pass the remaining funding legislation for FY 2024 to avoid a partial government shutdown.
“This legislation is long overdue, and should have passed six months ago—but nevertheless, I am pleased that $15,217,036 in Community Project Funding I worked to secure within this bill will have a positive impact on Minnesota’s Fourth District,” Congresswoman McCollum said. “These investments are the result of strong partnerships led by local leaders for projects that will make families and our communities healthier, safer, and stronger.”
Rep. McCollum secured funding for 15 projects that will directly benefit Fourth District residents.
These include:
$1,000,000 to Ramsey County for the Rice Street Reconstruction which will improve traffic flow and safety for pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and drivers.
$2,965,000 to Ramsey County for their Emergency and Public Safety Communications Network Replacement to provide reliable communication infrastructure for first responders.
$963,000 to Washington County to upgrade their Public Safety Equipment and Technology with two airboats and a digital evidence management system.
$500,000 to Washington County to construct the Trunk Highway 96, Norell Avenue, and Stonebridge Trail Roundabout which will improve safety for all users on these roadways.
$1,000,000 to the East Side Boys Girls Club to renovate and expand their facility to create a state-of-the-art Workforce Development Training Center for youth in the community.
$1,666,279 to the City of Saint Paul to construct a new Fire Station 7 to improve fire and EMS coverage to the East Side and surrounding areas.
$500,000 to the City of Saint Paul for the Riverview Library Renovation that will ensure this historic Carnegie library serves the next generation of Saint Paul’s West Side with upgrades to its technology and programming space, and improved accessibility.
$500,000 to the City of Saint Paul for their Hayden Heights Library Renovation to create an innovative technology resource hub on the East Side that will meet residents’ business, economic, and community space needs.
$963,000 to the University of St. Thomas for Analytical Equipment for Measurement Science that will allow research into complex questions about ecological and water issues in Minnesota.
$1,000,000 to the American Indian Family Center to construct the Oyate Ota Center to provide a central community space to deliver services and supports to the American Indian community.
$850,000 to the City of North St. Paul for their Community Center Revitalization to create a year-round, mixed-use community hub that will be safe and accessible to all residents.
$959,757 to the City of Gem Lake for their Municipal Water Supply Project to provide safe drinking water for residents whose well water has been contaminated.
$850,000 to the City of Woodbury for their reconstruction and improvement of Weir Drive to address safety concerns and access.
$500,000 to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to guide the development of an Anerobic Digester Nutrient Recovery industry that would reduce nutrient run-off into Minnesota’s waters.
$1,000,000 to the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) for their Cereal Disease Laboratory, which conducts cutting-edge research to support the stability of our global food supply.
H. Res. 1061 includes six of the 12 Appropriations bills that provide regular funding for the federal government. For the last five months, the government has remained open through passage of four temporary funding bills. These Continuing Resolutions were required because Republicans controlling Congress pushed extreme partisan measures in the funding legislation instead of working with Democrats to craft responsible bills based on agreements in the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act that was signed into law in June 2023.
House Appropriations Democrats, working with the White House, were successful in accomplishing two major goals in H. Res. 1061:First, removing harmful, extreme House Republican policy riders that attempted to make abortion illegal everywhere, slash efforts to fight climate change, and threaten our national security. And secondly, Democrats rejected extreme Republican funding cuts that would have decimated Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) funding for families facing food insecurity, taken away affordable housing vouchers for tens of thousands of Americans, and a massive cut to heating assistance, literally leaving families out in the cold, among other cuts.
This government funding package invests in America’s future and delivers for the American people by:
Protecting women’s rights by blocking attempts to limit women’s access to reproductive health care, including abortion, and by increasing funding for gender-based violence prevention and prosecution programs.
Confronting the climate crisis, fighting climate change, and ensuring America’s energy independence with robust, transformative investments in deploying clean energy technologies in communities across the country, and providing funding for cutting-edge scientific and climate-related research.
Honoring our commitments to our veterans by ensuring they receive the care and benefits that they have earned and investing in veterans’ health care, including targeted investments that advance women’s health, mental health, and homelessness assistance.
H. Res. 1061 is expected to be passed by the Senate and signed into law by President Biden later this week. A detailed summary of the bill is available here. By March 22, Congress must pass the remaining Fiscal Year 2024 funding bills: Defense, Legislative Branch, Financial Services and General Government, Homeland Security, Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, and State and Foreign Operations, in order to avoid a partial government shutdown.
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.
