A new tool to help 911 dispatchers has already helped save a life in the Northwest Territories.
RapidSOS is a data platform that helps first responders locate callers by tracking the GPS on their smartphones. The 911 division in the N.W.T. government started using RapidSOS in April.
Ashley Geraghty is the N.W.T. 911 program manager and he said the new tool has been a game-changer for his department… READ MORE
Did you know the Aventura Police Department’s 9-1-1 Communications Section is 1 of 7 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) in Miami-Dade County? In 2020, the Aventura Police Department’s team of 14 Police Communications Officers (PCO) processed over 90,000 phone calls, out of which 11,200 of those were 9-1-1 calls for service.
APD’s Communications Officers are the first point of contact for people in desperate need of help. In-fact, 9-1-1 Dispatchers are often referred to as the first “First Responders.” A lot of time goes into training these amazing men and women. The State of Florida Department of Health requires all PSAP Operators to become certified 9-1-1 Telecommunicators. There are numerous certifications the operators must obtain, including the Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) certification… READ MORE
Oklahoma 911 call centers are experiencing a large amount of accidental 911 calls due to safety features available on mobile devices including iPhones and Apple watches.
According to the Oklahoma 911 Management Authority and the State 911 Coordinator, 12 percent of 911 calls in Oklahoma are hang-ups that have to be followed up on. Almost all of these calls are considered accidents.
For each accidental 911 call, dispatchers must follow up to determine if there is a real emergency, adding excess time and attention away from intentional 911 calls… READ MORE
WIVB) — New York State is dishing out $10 million to 911 centers across New York State. Local counties are slated to receive $1.2 million of that pie.
The money is coming in the form of a grant from the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services. It’s intended to help localities in 57 counties and New York City improve 911 public safety answering, dispatch operations.
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s office says the grant will help offset day-to-day expenses and encourage investments into new technology like text-to-9-1-1 messaging, data communication and improved geo-location for emergency response… READ MORE
Equipped with not much more than a flashlight and radio, a young security officer named Tim Clarke patrolled the campus of Mount St. Mary’s University 30-some years ago.
He worked the midnight shift when he wasn’t attending classes at Frederick Community College, fresh out of Catoctin High School.
Three decades later, Clarke retired from the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office as a major with more than 35 years of law enforcement experience behind him… READ MORE
