City of Hampton proposes largest raises for sworn public safety officers, 911 operators (VA)

Hampton plans to address staffing shortages for first responders, in part, by offering them the largest pay raises in the city.

City Manager Mary Bunting’s recommended budget includes 7% raises for sworn public safety officers and 911 operators because they’re the most difficult for the city to fill and retain. Bunting attributed the challenges to a tight labor market, increased crime and “a negative national environment around policing.”

“We have always stood strong in supporting our officers,” Bunting said at last week’s informal City Council work session. “While other communities were defunding their police, we were defending ours…

Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center expanding to Sherborn (MA)

The Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center will handle all 911 calls to Sherborn’s police and fire departments starting in July.

The center currently serves as the dispatch center for the Abington, Holbrook, and Rockland police and fire departments, as well as the Canton, Sharon, and Whitman fire departments.

The regional facility opened in January 2021 in a new $8 million, 6,000-square-foot building behind the Holbrook public safety complex. Officials estimate that the center, which was funded with state money, will handle about 50,000 emergency calls a year…

Riley County Communications Center begins accreditation (KS)

Riley County Communications Center begins accreditation (KS)

MANHATTAN, Kan. (KSNT) – The Riley County Communications Center has officially begun the process for the Public Safety Communications Accreditation Program.

Captain Josh Kyle with the Riley County Police Department stopped by 27 News Tuesday morning to give us the details. The Communications Center will undergo a five-phase process to earn its accreditation. Staff will collect and analyze data with overall goals of ensuring staff accountability, making sound operational and administrative decisions, and promoting leadership…

Guadalupe County applauds the daily heroic efforts of 9-1-1 dispatchers (TX)

Guadalupe County applauds the daily heroic efforts of 9-1-1 dispatchers (TX)

(Seguin) — Guadalupe County is applauding the efforts of a group of heroes that often times goes unnoticed but is the first group of people you think of when there is an emergency.

The Guadalupe County Commissioners Court recently recognized its 9-1-1 dispatchers as part of National Telecommunicators Week.

Showing his appreciation for these men and women before the court was Guadalupe County Sheriff Arnold Zwicke. Zwicke says his dispatch center is the heartbeat of any agency and is what initiates those life-saving measures during a medical or public emergency…

Public service organizations thank 911 dispatchers (PA)

Public service organizations thank 911 dispatchers (PA)

‘The Vital Link’

There’s one phone number everyone has memorized: 911.

Chris Beck, who’s been a Butler County 911 dispatcher for five years, remarked that the number is the first step to people in crisis receiving help, and he’s received many interesting calls in his time on the job.

He described an instance where a woman called in who was stranded after an ice jam flooded a creek around her and her dogs. While she and her pets got to higher ground, Beck pinpointed her location using Rapid SOS technology and updated those responding…

Dispatchers: the first link in the emergency response chain (FL)

April 14 – 20 is Dispatcher Appreciation Week. Eglin has its own dispatchers made up of both firefighters and security forces Airmen all under one roof known as the Emergency Communications Center.

Their job is to direct all emergency and non-emergency calls for Eglin. The ECC never shuts down with two dispatchers and controllers there at all times. The positions are staffed by nine 96th Civil Engineer Squadron fire dispatchers and approximately 20 96th Security Forces Squadron controllers. They receive and disseminate emergency information on an average of 1,500 calls per year… READ MORE