by ECC Editor | Oct 23, 2020 | Articles, Comm Center News
The results of a workplace assessment recently completed for Tucson’s Public Safety Communications Department has caused concern among city leaders who are working to address “fundamental problems in the operation of the department.”
The department is responsible for dispatching 9-1-1 calls for police and fire departments.
The third-party review by Traaen & Associates LLC includes interviews with 108 employees and outlines a variety of workplace issues, including staffing levels, recruitment, training, employee morale, instances of harassment and lack of accountability… READ MORE
by AllThingsECC.com | Oct 23, 2020 | Comm Center News
When seconds matter and lives hang in the balance, communications among first responders is critical. It’s something most people don’t even think about but as a leader in law enforcement, this is the sort of thing that keeps me up at night. I want our officers to have the very best communications capabilities possible.
In late 2017, South Dakota recognized the importance of a reliable, stand-alone emergency communications system for public safety and first responders and chose an advanced, modern network called FirstNet…
by AllThingsECC.com | Oct 23, 2020 | Comm Center News
Tuesday was a special day for a Watson boy who received a special achievement award by the Effingham County 911 Board.
Lucas Grupe pulled up to the Effingham County Office Building inside a fire engine manned by members of the Effingham Fire Department. Grupe was helped off the engine by EFD Lieutenant John Kronewitter and EFD Firefighter Lucas Kroening.
Grupe then got a chance to see where he made a call to Effingham County Sheriff’s Department Assistant Telecommunicator Supervisor Alysa Kilman, who was on duty June 6 – the day after Grupe’s eleventh birthday. His mother, Cindy Grupe, told her son to call 911 when she thought she was having a heart attack…
by AllThingsECC.com | Oct 23, 2020 | Articles, Comm Center News
Motorola was the only company interested in bidding on an expensive project to update Virginia’s statewide public safety radio system, an outcome that led a competitor to complain the process was one-sided and drew scrutiny from a top lawmaker.
The Statewide Agencies Radio System, or STARS, began with a $329 million contract between the state and Motorola in 2004, with the goal of establishing a 24/7, digital voice and data communications system used by nearly two dozen state agencies…
by ECC Editor | Oct 23, 2020 | Comm Center News
Dispatchers often are the under recognized members of an emergency response team, working behind the scenes, gathering essential information from often frantic callers and relaying that critical information to first responders.
According to 911dispatcheredu.org, dispatchers need to have the ability to take control of situations that may be chaotic, heart-wrenching, stressful, confusing and frenzied. It also says they must be organized, adept at multi-tasking, level-headed and trustworthy… READ MORE
by AllThingsECC.com | Oct 23, 2020 | Articles, Comm Center News
FirstNet announced a major expansion to its high-speed broadband communications platform for first responders this week, with additional cell sites and more than 2,000 other network enhancements tacked onto its Florida operations.
These additions will include cell sites constructed for the Band 14 and AT&T commercial spectrums at locations identified as priority spots by both state and public safety stakeholders. Band 14 is a nationwide spectrum granted to FirstNet specifically by the government for the only nationwide high-speed broadband communications platform. Additionally, FirstNet is giving free smartphones for life, with unlimited plans to first responders…
