Fairfax County tests AI for public safety calls, eyes expanded implementation | FFXnow (VA)

by | Aug 20, 2025 | Comm Center News

Yesterday (Tuesday) marked a major milestone in the future of Fairfax County’s emergency response: one of the agency’s first uses of artificial intelligence.

For a brief period of time that day, the county’s Department of Public Safety Communications (DPSC) tested an AI system to triage select calls for service to the non-emergency line, officials announced.

“This limited test only handled calls that didn’t need police, fire or EMS response,” the county said. “Think of questions about permits, noise complaints from last week, or asking which department handles a specific problem.”

In Quarters: San Ramon Joint Public Safety Building – Firehouse Magazine (CA)

by | Aug 19, 2025 | Comm Center News

This facility received the Renovations Notable award in the 2024 Firehouse Station Design Awards. Find the full list of winners here. 

This project for the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District and the city of San Ramon remodels approximately 70,000 sq. ft. of existing city-owned buildings and includes the addition of a new 9,000-sq.-ft. emergency operations center (EOC) and 9-1-1 communications center. The initial phase included a detailed space needs and facility assessment for fire administration, police and emergency communications. The goal was to repurpose an existing building for the fire administration facility, renovate the existing police facility, and construct a new joint emergency operations and communications center.

Architect: COAR Design Group

Austin considers ‘Unified Emergency Communications Department,’ eyeing faster response times (TX)

by | Aug 18, 2025 | Comm Center News

The plan calls for consolidating 911 dispatch operations within the Austin Police Department, Austin Fire Department and Austin-Travis County EMS.

AUSTIN, Texas — Austin city leaders are considering the creation of a Joint Emergency Communications Department to improve emergency response times and efficiency across the city’s multiple public safety agencies.

The proposed change, discussed during recent community meetings, comes as part of a resolution passed by the city council last week and authored by District 6 Council Member Krista Laine. The resolution directs the city manager to develop a strategic plan for consolidating 911 and emergency dispatch operations that currently function separately within the Austin Police Department, Austin Fire Department and Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services Department.

Spokane plans new emergency communications center after split from regional 911 system (WA)

by | Aug 14, 2025 | Comm Center News

SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane is moving forward with plans to create its own Emergency Communications Center to serve as the city’s primary 911 dispatch hub.

According to the City of Spokane’s draft agenda, the City Council is considering an ordinance that would establish the department, which would handle all emergency calls initiated within city limits. The measure would also update city code, replacing references to the former Combined Communications Center and creating a dedicated Emergency Communications Center Fund to manage revenues and spending.

From headset to high ground: How drones are transforming 911 dispatch – Police1

by | Aug 14, 2025 | Comm Center News

In emergency response, the heroes are often pictured on the front lines: the police officer arriving at a chaotic scene or the firefighter rushing into a burning building. Yet, historically, the very first “first responder” has been the calm voice on the other end of a 911 call — the dispatcher. The immense value of these communication experts can go underappreciated, and their critical role in the outcome of an incident may be overlooked. Now, innovative technologies like Drone as First Responder (DFR) are not only revolutionizing emergency response but also breaking down long-standing silos between dispatch and field operations, forging a stronger, more unified force.

‘The man should be fired:’ 911 dispatchers’ complaints prompt calls for director’s firing or resignation (TN)

by | Aug 13, 2025 | Comm Center News

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — They are the people who take your calls in some of your worst moments.

911 operators have an extremely stressful job.

But some who answer emergency calls in Nashville say their boss makes the job even more stressful and they describe the working environment at Metro’s 911 Call Center as “toxic.”