County commissioners recognize two groups that serve community (MI)

County commissioners recognize two groups that serve community (MI)

New Lapeer County Animal Control Chief Rachel Horton had her new badge pinned on by husband Ben at Thursday’s Board of Commissioners meeting. Horton is replacing Chief Dave Eady, who is retiring from the position at the end of this month. Photo by Krystal Moralee

LAPEER — The Lapeer County Board of Commissioners recognized two groups of people that serve Lapeer County in various ways by passing two resolutions at Thursday’s Committee of the Whole meeting.

First, in honor of Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, the board recognized Lapeer County Central Dispatch for being the answering point for all public safety response in Lapeer County. The staff is recognized for providing the single most vital link for police, fire, and emergency medical service providers as they serve the community, assisting in the saving of many lives, the apprehension of criminals, and the prevention of considerable property loss each year…

Fairfield Gets $3.5M Grant To Upgrade Police, Fire Radio Network (CT)

Fairfield Gets $3.5M Grant To Upgrade Police, Fire Radio Network (CT)

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield recently received $3.5 million from the federal government to replace the town’s emergency radio network.

“I want to thank Senator (Richard) Blumenthal for his help in securing these federal dollars that will cover the cost to build the infrastructure of the network that will allow our Police and Fire Departments to connect directly with the State’s platform and other municipalities, which is critical during emergencies for both first responders and our community,” First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick said Thursday in an email newsletter to residents…

Be smart when you call 911 (IN)

Be smart when you call 911 (IN)

It takes a calm person to work in a 911 dispatch center.

The people who call for help are often distressed and can become demanding and abusive when they think the dispatcher is asking too many questions and not sending help quickly enough.

But dispatchers like Jennifer Tharp must stay calm, collect information the first responders need to help the caller, and give concise instructions on how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation or other lifesaving techniques, even when someone is hysterical or berating them…

City Commission highlights dispatchers (SD)

Pierre Mayor Steve Harding marked April 10-16 as Telecommunications Week with a proclamation and highlighted the city’s dispatchers at the South Dakota Communications Center.

“The dispatch unit, they are such an intricate part of law enforcement in the community,” Harding told the commission. “And they deal with a lot of tense situations throughout our community. They dispatch not only for Pierre but for Stanley County, Hughes County, and I think five different counties.”

Communications Supervisor Cindy Gross said dispatchers handle 911 calls for five counties — Hughes, Stanley, Hyde, Sully and Jones. The center also services 19 counties for the South Dakota Highway Patrol and assists the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks department… READ MORE

Virginia county’s 911 center celebrates 25 years of service

TAZEWELL, Va. (AP) — A 911 dispatcher who remembers the days when she had to use paper maps because there were no computers and ask for phone numbers because there was no caller ID was recognized along with her peers on April 13 when the Tazewell County 911 celebrated its 25th year of operations.

The Tazewell County 911 Center started operations on April 23, 1997. To celebrate the approaching anniversary, current dispatchers and their retired colleagues were treated to a luncheon at the adjoining Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office…

911 dispatcher dies in head-on crash in Louisiana  (LA)

911 dispatcher dies in head-on crash in Louisiana (LA)

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – The Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of a 911 dispatcher who was killed in an early morning crash.

Grace Chandler, 45, was killed in an accident in the early morning hours of Saturday, April 16.

Chandler was traveling on the 16 Freeway in Los Angeles when his vehicle was struck head-on by another vehicle…