DC extends program that directs 911 mental health calls to social workers, not police

DC extends program that directs 911 mental health calls to social workers, not police

by | Nov 15, 2021 | Comm Center News

D.C. is set to extend a pilot initiative where certain calls to police involving mental health emergencies are routed to city social workers who are better equipped to handle the situation, Bloomberg CityLab reported Friday.

The District’s Mental Health Emergency Dispatch Program, which was implemented by Mayor Bowser in May, was intended to reduce the number of police-involved shootings that occur when the subject of an emergency call may be mentally unstable.

According to the report, during the first phase, only 2% of behavioral health calls were directed to the team responsible for the pilot…

NHTSA Taps Mission Critical Partners for 911 GIS Assessment Initiative; Darrin Reilly Quoted

by | Nov 12, 2021 | Comm Center News

Mission Critical Partners will work with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to evaluate the state of geographic information systems in the 911 community as part of efforts to improve sharing of GIS data across the U.S.

The National 911 Program at NHTSA will oversee the effort and collaborate with MCP to come up with a report that will include an assessment of administrative, governance, operational and financial issues and identification of metrics to help determine GIS data’s accuracy, MCP said Monday… READ MORE

Habersham cities planning for E-911 radio purchases, maintenance fees (GA)

Habersham cities planning for E-911 radio purchases, maintenance fees (GA)

by | Nov 11, 2021 | Comm Center News

With a new E-911 radio system funded by SPLOST and the American Rescue Plan coming to Habersham County, the county’s municipalities are working to adjust their budgets and make decisions on how they will support new radios compatible with the new system for their first responders and public safety officials.

City managers, police and fire officials met with the county Tuesday to discuss costs and fees, and Habersham County Finance Director Tim Sims says that there was at least one representative from nearly every city at the meeting…

Bloomington Emergency Call Center receives high honor

Bloomington Emergency Call Center receives high honor

by | Nov 11, 2021 | Comm Center News

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (WMBD) — In Bloomington, the city’s emergency communications center has been recognized as one of the best in the country.

The International Academy of Emergency Dispatch has certified the Communicati.ons Center as an Emergency Police Dispatch (EPD) Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE). It’s the 25th center in the entire world to get the honor.

The Bloomington center is the first in Illinois to achieve the designation…

Michigan Association of Public Safety Communications Officials Recognizes Phyllis Fuller from Peninsula Fiber Network

by | Nov 11, 2021 | Comm Center News

Peninsula Fiber Network, LLC (PFN), a leading provider of fiber optic-based telecommunications and Next Generation 911 services throughout Michigan, Wisconsin, and parts of Minnesota was pleased to learn that one of its key employees received statewide recognition.

PFN Employee Receives APCO Presidents Award

The Michigan Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) held its annual awards banquet in Frankenmuth on October 21, 2021. Each year, awards are presented to 911professionals recognizing their service and dedication to the profession…

Billings emergency dispatch moves to better match medical calls to best response (MT)

Billings emergency dispatch moves to better match medical calls to best response (MT)

by | Nov 11, 2021 | Comm Center News

BILLINGS – It’s not always necessary to dispatch a million-dollar fire truck to a medical call, but that’s the way it has worked in Billings, at least until this week.

The City County Dispatch crew is now working a new computer program to help match the right resources with the needed response.

It’s called priority medical dispatch, and people on the other end of the phone will play an important part in that response…