Cimarron Hills Fire Department earns new ‘Public Protection Classification’ rating, meaning decreased property insurance premiums for many (CO)

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) – The Cimarron Hills Fire Department earned a “Class 2 Public Protection Classification” rating from the Insurance Services Office, meaning a lot of home and business owners within their protection district will have decreased property insurance premiums.

The department announced the new classification to the public on Monday. The change is effective July 1.

“Cimarron Hills joins the 5% of agencies across the Country with a PPC of 2 or above, validating that fire protection, water service, and communications are among the best for the citizens we serve,” part of a news release from the department reads. “This is a tremendous accomplishment as we celebrate 50 years of service to the citizens and business owners of Cimarron Hills… READ MORE

911 dispatchers still needed (MO)

(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) Slowly but surely, the Communications Center is filling the dispatcher holes.

The St. Joseph Police Department hired six new communications operators in January but is still looking to hire two more.

Captain John Olszowka says it is imperative for the city to bring in two more members to the team so the community will no longer be at risk hearing “please hold” over the phone when calling 911.

“It’s huge for the community. Well, when I only have three operators working on answering the phones and someone else’s call is first, you call 911 and get a recorded voice saying, ‘please standby,’ that’s not good for the community,” said Cpt. John Olszowka who is the Communications Center Manager “So if we can get our staffing back up, it makes it easier on everybody… READ MORE 

KITTCOM rolls out new computer-based location accuracy technology (WA)

KITTCOM rolls out new computer-based location accuracy technology (WA)

When it comes to emergency response, time is of the essence, and KITTCOM recently rolled out advanced technology that helps shave precious time off their responses to calls for help.

The technology rolled out by the agency is designed to hone in on the location of callers with the aid of computer technology. KITTCOM Director George Long said the technology, known as a Rapid SOS Portal is a web-based application that pulls data from connected cellular phone devices to improve location accuracy. The technology is specific to cellular phones and was rolled out on March 1…

Bayham saving on 911 dispatch service (Canada)

Bayham council discussed the following during a Thursday, March 3 meeting:

Councillors gave the go ahead for the $11,935 purchase of a new HVAC system for the Straffordville Library.

The budgeted item was to replace the 30-year-old existing system. Following the tendering process, manager of public works Steve Adams recommended the higher bid from Koolen Electric because the ERV unit with the bid was higher quality to deal with stale air in the basement.

All three bids submitted were below the $15,000 budget… READ MORE

Fresno PD First Major City to Deploy Axon Dispatch to Better Support First Responders (CA)

Fresno PD First Major City to Deploy Axon Dispatch to Better Support First Responders (CA)

Axon announced that the Fresno Police Department, a Major City Chiefs Association member, is now live on Axon Dispatch, a computer-aided dispatch system (CAD) platform built on modern cloud technologies.

Fresno PD benefits from Axon’s suite of innovative technology products, including TASER energy weapons, body-worn cameras, evidence management, Axon Records and now Dispatch.

Axon Dispatch is a robust CAD system built on modern cloud technologies designed to enhance 9-1-1 call centers. Fresno PD receives nearly one million 9-1-1 calls each year to its Communication Center and requires a modern CAD system capable of reliably handling its call volume and call diversity while being user-friendly…

New anti-DJI rules could ground public-safety drone programs, IWCE speakers say – Urgent Comms

New anti-DJI rules could ground public-safety drone programs, IWCE speakers say – Urgent Comms

Public-safety aerial drone initiatives provide an ever-growing level of situational awareness to first responders, but many of these programs could be undermined by rules designed to ban the use of drones from China-based DJI because of national-security concerns, according to panelists speaking at IWCE 2022.

Tony Loperfido, a sergeant with the technical operations unit of the Miami Beach Police Department, said that the Florida Department of Management Services (DMS) has directed public-safety agencies to only buy drones from five American manufacturers—not from DJI, which dominates the U.S. drone market today…