Behind the scenes: Oro Valley Police Department recognizing hard work of 911 dispatchers (AZ)

ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (KGUN) — When you dial 9-1-1, Makenna Ritzel is one of the many dispatchers ready to help.

“Some days we get really busy and there are a lot of calls we have to take,” said Ritzel.

At just 18-years-old, Ritzel is getting a head start on a career she has always dreamed of.

“When I was younger, I said I wanted to be a cop. When I got older I started looking into the police department,” said Ritzel… READ MORE

Benton County to lose one PSAP (AR)

City Administrator Phillip Patterson announced during Tuesday’s city board meeting that the Arkansas 911 Board has chosen to cut funding to one of Benton County’s Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP).

The 911 Board voted to only fund three PSAPs, also known as 911 call centers, in Benton County, Patterson said in his administrator’s report. The county presently has four PSAPs each located in Bentonville, Rogers, rural Benton County and Siloam Springs.

In 2019, the state legislature adopted Act 660, which replaced the Arkansas Telephone Emergency Services Board with the Arkansas 911 Board. Another requirement of Act 660 is to develop a plan to provide funding for a limited number of PSAPs across the state… READ MORE

‘If it gets worse, it’s going to be dangerous’: Vacancies grow at Raleigh 911 call center (TN)

How many full-time dispatchers can be funded and how to provide a raise for them were primary topics of discussion Wednesday at a meeting of the Greeneville-Greene County 911 board of directors.

911 Director Jerry Bird submitted two tentative budgets, one providing for the 18 full-time dispatchers currently employed and another that would pay for 20 full-time dispatchers.

Bird has said that 21 full-time dispatchers, supplemented by part-time employees, would be a workable number accounting for attrition and factors like unplanned medical leave and vacation time… READ MORE

Norristown council approves Municipal Hall communications system contract (PA)

NORRISTOWN — Members of the Norristown Municipal Council authorized a nearly $70,000 contract earlier this week to revamp its public safety communications system as renovations continue on Municipal Hall.

The roughly $69,786 agreement with Intenna Systems, Inc, of Medford, New Jersey, would enhance communications for the municipality’s police officers, firefighters and first responders, according to Norristown Fire Chief Tom O’Donnell…

‘If it gets worse, it’s going to be dangerous’: Vacancies grow at Raleigh 911 call center (NC)

‘If it gets worse, it’s going to be dangerous’: Vacancies grow at Raleigh 911 call center (NC)

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Raleigh public safety personnel continue to voice their concerns about safety in the City of Oaks as staff vacancies and low wages plague multiple departments.

The ABC11 I-Team spoke exclusively to a current 911 operator who has worked at the Wake-Raleigh Emergency Communications Center for years.

“We’re bleeding staff,” the employee said. “It’s going to get worse before it gets better. And I’m concerned about the citizens of Wake County and about the first responders…