After Boy Calls Police to Order ‘Happy Meal’ for His Sister, Officer Teaches Him About 911 – and Brings Him the Food (AZ)

by | Nov 3, 2019 | Comm Center News

This police officer took his vows to ‘serve’ the public to a whole new level after a little boy dialed 911 to order food for his sister.

Mesa Police Department dispatcher Anthony Bonilla was surprised—and amused—to receive a call earlier this week from a 5-year-old boy named Charlie Skabelund.

In an adorable audio clip that was released by the department on social media, Charlie can be heard asking the police dispatcher if….

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10th-anniversary celebration for the Amarillo Emergency Center

by | Oct 20, 2019 | Comm Center News

AMARILLO, Texas (KAMR/KCIT) — The Amarillo Emergency Communications Center is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

The consolidated center has numerous resources including police, fire, and two ambulance systems.

They are also able to handle calls for animal control.

Having those resources in one place helped improve efficiency and the effectiveness of the response time to emergencies.

“This is a big achievement for our…. Read More

The FirstNet Lab and Future Experience Center For First Responders

by | Oct 20, 2019 | Comm Center News

The First Responder Network Authority’s (FirstNet Authority) Technology Headquarters in Boulder, CO – home to the FirstNet Innovation and Test Lab and a future experience center – continues to be a focal point for transforming the future of public safety communications for first responders.

In this video tour of the Lab, Michael Van Zuiden, Senior Director for the Lab, walks through the state-of-the-art facility to explain the Lab’s pivotal work supporting public safety.  The Lab operates as a plug and play environment for the FirstNet Authority team to test the standards based mission critical functions and features of the FirstNet network.

“We’re currently verifying quality of service, priority, and preemption on the production network in the Lab,” explains Van Zuiden.  “For the future…. Read More

Volusia’s overtime tab: $99 million since 2013

by | Oct 20, 2019 | Comm Center News

Volusia County employees worked 627,200 hours of overtime totaling nearly $19 million in the past fiscal year that ended on Oct. 1, a News-Journal analysis found.

Since 2013, the amount of overtime the county has paid has increased every year — from $14.4 million six years ago to $18.82 million this past year. The Sheriff’s Office has used the most overtime during that period — $48 million to 9-1-1 dispatchers and deputies.

Experts say paying…. Read More

Bernalillo County looking to hire emergency communications operators

by | Oct 20, 2019 | Comm Center News

Bernalillo County is hiring in its Emergency Communications Department. The department is comprised of trained and certified personnel that receive 911 and non-emergency calls for service, dispatch law enforcement and fire/rescue to the citizens in unincorporated Bernalillo County. The Emergency Communications Department runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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