County dispatch seeing more 911 hangups (UT)

Hang-up calls to 911 have been on the rise for our dispatch center, as well as every other center. We’re looking for your help, so that we can continue to provide the best service to the community.

Handling 911 hang-ups can sometimes be a relatively long, drawn-out process for our dispatchers. We never know if the person on the other end of the line is having an actual emergency or not. We can be taking away from providing the best service when we are constantly working on hang-ups…

911 dispatcher looks back at 21 years with the London Fire Department (UK)

Stay calm, no matter what.

After more than two decades as a communications operator for the London Fire Department, Ida Piroli has learned that keeping her cool is the most critical part of the job.

“You need to help these people in their most difficult times,” Piroli said. “But inside, you could be screaming. You could be afraid. But you can’t let that show. You’re trained to do these things, and that comes shining through. You get through it…

Investigation Finds Confusion, Delay in June 4 Drowning Response (MD)

Call transfers, confusion, miscommunication and even boat motor problems characterized the response to 911 calls for help the afternoon that 16-year-old Fitz Thomas drowned near Confluence Park—all described in a 77-page report released Monday.

The name of the report, the Perdido Bay Terrace Significant Incident Review, is emblematic of one the biggest problems that delayed the response—Perdido Bay Terrace is simply the nearest road to the site of the drowning, which happened at the mouth of the Goose Creek at Confluence Park in the River Creek neighborhood… 

Baltimore Police moving to encrypt scanner transmissions, keeping public from hearing calls (MD)

As part of a planned upgrade of its radio systems, the Baltimore Police Department is switching to encrypted transmissions, eliminating the ability for most of the public to listen in.

The preparations were confirmed by City Councilman Yitzy Schleifer, head of the public safety committee. He said the upgrade has been planned since last year and was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic…