APCO Announces Final Approval of American National Standard

by | Feb 18, 2022 | Comm Center News

Alexandria, Va. – The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International received final approval from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) on February 14, 2022, for a newly created American National Standard (ANS) titled Managing Operational Overload in the Emergency Communications Center (ECCs).

In today’s environment, emergency communications centers (ECCs) regularly experience situations where workload has the potential to overwhelm personnel. This standard provides ECCs with best practices for planning, mitigating and handling operational overload…

A nationwide 911 operator shortage has Milwaukee considering raising pay (WI)

by | Feb 18, 2022 | Comm Center News

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee, the county and the country are struggling to find the people many of us count on to be on the other side of the phone in an emergency, the 911 operators. In order to try to hire more people to do the job, the city is asking the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission to raise salaries, in some cases by $15,000, in hopes of attracting more people to the job.

In Milwaukee County, Christopher McGowan, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Deputy Director, says they are nearly at full staff. But they have a problem keeping 911 operators…

Work continues on backup for Vigo 911 dispatch center (IN)

by | Feb 18, 2022 | Comm Center News

Still-functional equipment will be re-used following upgrades occurring in Vigo County’s 911 Central Dispatch Center.

Director Vickie Oster told the E911 Advisory Board on Wednesday the replaced equipment will be installed in the county’s backup dispatch center, which was built into the new city police headquarters on South Seventh Street.

“I’m so excited because we could be over there and set up within 30 minutes to an hour,” Oster said of any need to relocate the dispatch center in case of power loss or other emergency. “And it would be just like we are in dispatch here…

Summit county, cities formalize regional dispatch center collaboration (CO)

Summit county, cities formalize regional dispatch center collaboration (CO)

by | Feb 18, 2022 | Comm Center News

Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro speaks Thursday before a ceremonial contract signing by area leaders for the county's new regional dispatch center in Tallmadge.

TALLMADGE — Cooperation among Summit County and several of its communities on a new regional dispatch center will improve emergency response times and safety, local leaders said Thursday morning as they gathered to formalize the new pact.

“We are stronger when we are working hand in hand with our local communities,” Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro told leaders of Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Fairlawn, Stow and Tallmadge during a ceremony at the former Weaver Workshop on Howe Road.

Cuyahoga Falls, Fairlawn, Stow and Tallmadge are joining with Summit County to operate an $11.2 million regional dispatch center at the former Weaver building. Those communities have formed Council of Governments (COG) that will serve as the facility’s governing board…

Dispatchers respond to increase in emergency calls (MT)

by | Feb 18, 2022 | Comm Center News

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Before firefighters race to burning buildings or police to a traffic incident, dispatchers answer the calls for someone needing help.

“We hear everything,” dispatcher Jennifer LaCross said. “Anything can happen at any time. We have no idea what our day to day is going to bring.”

That’s why they receive about four to six months of training, a psychological evaluation, a drug test and a criminal background check…