Monett may turn over 911 calls (MO)

BarCo residents’ calls would be dispatched through Cassville center

Discussions are in the preliminary stage for the City of Monett to transfer emergency communications for its Barry County residents over to Barry County’s 911 Center in Cassville.

Monett City Administrator Chris Weiner and Mayor Mike Brownsberger have met with Mike Phillips, director of Barry County E9-1-1, as well as Lawrence County Communications Director Bonnie Witt-Schulte and Jack Schultz, Lawrence County Emergency Services Board member. Phillips has requested the city provide him with plans by June 1…

Emergency management director shares latest update on siren project (IA)

After the storms Marshalltown and Marshall County have endured over the last few years, it’s more important than ever that the tornado sirens are fully functional and able to reach as many residents as possible.

Over the last several months, Marshall County Emergency Management Director Kim Elder has been providing updates to the board of supervisors on the grant application process for a project that would add or replace nine of the sirens in incorporated communities and add 12 more in unincorporated areas of the county along with a controller system to be installed at the county communications center and three digital repeaters, or digipeaters, at a total cost of around $734,000… READ MORE

Boylston voters could fund radio system, approve CPA at annual town meeting May 2 (MA)

BOYLSTON – In addition to the town budget, several spending articles could lead to discussion on May 2, with the Annual Town Meeting starting at 7 p.m. in the Tahanto Regional High School auditorium.

Although it is listed last on the warrant, the town budget is the biggest spending item, at $19,093,416, assuming no changes needed by other votes at the meeting.

A major expense being asked of taxpayers is a new radio system that would improve communications for police, fire, highway and light department…

Mayor’s Budget to Propose Beefing Up 311 Capacity in Effort to Offload Some Non-Emergency Calls From 911 Dispatchers (OR)

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler will propose funding in the annual budget adjustment next week to beef up staffing for the city’s 311 line, in an effort to divert a portion of non-emergency calls away from 911 dispatchers at the Bureau of Emergency Communications, who currently field Portlanders’ non-emergency calls.

The proposal, if funding is approved, would expand 311′s hours, capacity and staffing. The goal, according to the mayor’s office, is to divert up to 180,000 non-emergency calls per year from 911 dispatchers to the 311 call line… READ MORE

Volusia County emergency dispatch adds mental health crisis counselor (FL)

Volusia County emergency dispatch adds mental health crisis counselor (FL)

There’s a new program in Volusia County to properly handle 911 calls from people having a mental health crisis. Sheriff Mike Chitwood points to an increase in mental health reports and says too often, they end tragically.The sheriff says about half of the 60,000 calls dispatch gets a month are substance abuse or mental-health related.A new crisis counselor will help dispatchers so that they have a better chance at getting the right resources where they’re needed.It’s the lifeline for callers who are in danger, charging the person who answers to act fast in hopes of saving them.”The person knows that it’s a recorded line and they leave their last will testament and then they take their life and the dispatcher is on the line,” Chitwood said.Chitwood says, typically, it’s police officers responding to these crises…

Are 911 prank calls on the rise in San Antonio? Here’s what officials have to say. (TX)

SAN ANTONIO — Every week night while most of the city sleeps, Martin Olivares is on the streets.

The photographer for Metro Video News shoots video of most major overnight crime and crash scenes in the San Antonio area.

But Olivares said lately he has been spinning his wheels.

He has been seeing an increase in the number of prank calls for emergency services… READ MORE