AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — Eighty-one 911 telecommunicators from across Texas are in Amarillo for two and a half days of training on emergency communications, workplace skills and new technology.
The mandatory course offers dispatchers a chance to prepare for the pressure of answering calls for help, said Leticia Truex, president of the Texas National Emergency Number Association.
A new cutting-edge facility has transformed the way the Hamilton County Communications Center serves southwest Ohio.
Since early 2026, the 9-1-1 agency has been operating out of a new 40,000-square-foot communications center with state-of-the-art capabilities, incorporating modern technologies — including a FirstNet Compact Rapid Deployable (CRD) — into the building’s design to support the demands of 9-1-1 operations today.
OAKLAND – Full normal 911 service was restored Friday morning after an unprecedented computer and phone system outage linked to a copper wire theft and vandalism Wednesday night left police dispatchers unable to field 911 calls and dispatch officers from the police communications center, police said.
The computer dispatching system, known as CAD, had been restored Thursday afternoon.
An update Friday morning from the Police Department said at 8:30 a.m. phone service to all city systems was now back online after city and AT&T crews worked through the nightto perform repairs to the damaged AT&T infrastructure.
Legislation that would designate 911 telecommunicators as emergency responders has passed both chambers of the General Assembly unanimously and is now headed to the governor’s desk, the bill’s prime sponsor, state Rep. Jessica Benham, announced today.
House Bill 453 would add 911 telecommunicators, including call takers and dispatchers, to the state’s legal definition of “emergency responders” to better recognize their critical role and help them access related health benefits, mental health support and stress management resources.
Last week, UT San Antonio Public Safety marked an important milestone with the ribbon cutting of its refreshed Communications Center, a modernization effort designed to enhance emergency communications, operational efficiency and service to the campus community.
As the first point of contact for callers reporting emergencies and critical incidents, communications personnel are essential in coordinating police, fire, EMS and other emergency resources.
