Preckwinkle Issues Veto Of Resolution To Share Addresses Of COVID-Positive Individuals With First Responders (IL)

On May 21, 2020, the Cook County Board of Commissioners narrowly passed Item No. 20-2378, that calls for Cook County Department of Public Health to temporarily share addresses of COVID-19 positive patients to municipal first responders through Public Safety Answering Point (“PSAP)” dispatch systems. 

During the May 21 board meeting, President Preckwinkle responded to the vote calling it “discouraging and dismaying” to not listen to Cook County and State health experts who opposed the measure… READ MORE

Commissioners reject radio comms proposals (TX)

Proposals to upgrade the county’s radio communications made it to the chopping block after being placed on the Cooke County Commissioners’ Court meeting agenda for the third time in recent weeks.

On Monday, May 18, members of the court unanimously agreed to reject all proposals to upgrade the county’s public safety radio communications system. Commissioners meet inside the Commissioners’ Courtroom at the Cooke County Courthouse in downtown Gainesville…

Law enforcement access to COVID-19 patient details sparks controversy (TN)

A national investigation by The Associated Press found that there has been widespread information sharing between emergency dispatchers and public health officials across the U.S. concerning individuals testing positive for COVID-19.

Per the AP, local governments in at least 35 states have shared COVID-19 patient details with dispatch centers. The premise behind this information sharing is to keep police, EMTs, and firefighters informed of potential risks as they respond to calls at the residence of someone who has tested positive for the virus. However, this has caused concern among some civil liberties groups…

Tensions high as commissioner and mayor discuss failing emergency communications equipment (TN)

Tensions were high at the Hawkins County commission’s May 18 meeting, as Commissioner Mike Herrell and County Mayor Jim Lee clashed over the county’s plan to replace the failing emergency communications equipment.

This equipment has been the ‘talk of the town’ for several months after portions of the equipment went completely offline on Dec. 18, 2019.

An Emergency Communications taskforce met weekly for quite a while after this incident to look into replacement equipment. In February, the committee brought its findings before the Commission’s Public…

Rutherford 911 District assistant director appointed as regional director for National Emergency Number Association (TN)

The 9-1-1 Association announced that Cassie Lowery, ENP of Rutherford County (TN) Emergency Communications has been elected by the organizations’ membership to serve on its Board of Directors and help lead the association’s mission to improve 9-1-1 through research, standards development, training, education, outreach, and advocacy.

Lowery, who will represent NENA members from the Southeastern Region on the board, has worked in the 9-1-1 industry for twenty-five years and has volunteered at both the county and state level on multiple boards and committees… READ MORE