GREAT FALLS, Montana – The Great Falls/Cascade County Emergency Communications Center is hosting a hiring event to address a critical staffing shortage. The event, designed to fast track applicants, offers a unique opportunity for those interested in becoming 911 dispatchers.
LACONIA, N.H. – After nearly a year of specialized training, Winni, New Hampshire 911’s first comfort dog, has officially completed her program and will now serve full-time alongside her handler, Supervisor Abigail Rider. The Division of Emergency Services and Communications (DESC) celebrated this milestone, recognizing the dedication and effort that went into preparing Winni for her role in supporting 911 personnel.
Hours of overtime are leading to low morale among Brown County Dispatch employees.
Dispatcher Kirk Parker said fluctuating schedules are unsustainable.
“The majority to stay later in the day than originally agreed upon, affecting home life, medical appointments, court custody arrangements, after school kids sporting events, childcare,” he said during public comment.
Text of the bill—S.725, the “Enhancing First Response Act”—was not available on www.congress.gov at the time of this posting, but a press release posted on Klobuchar’s website states the bill would update the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) of 911 dispatchers from “clerical workers” to “protective service workers.” In addition, it would require the FCC to take the following actions:
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — In recent months, the Utah Communications Authority and L3Harris Technologies rolled out a new communications system in Utah for use by first responders across the state; however, it hasn’t been a seamless transition for some agencies.
Hunter began her career in 1985, when the police station was still housed in the historic Carnegie Library building on Broadway. At the time, the department’s communication system was rudimentary compared to today’s standards, relying on a push-button 911 phone connected to a cassette recorder and just four radio channels. Dispatchers operated with minimal computerization, relying on handwritten logs and time clocks to track calls and officer movements.
