Ipswich dispatchers David Irvine and Dan Morris (via ICAM).
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IPSWICH — At a well-attended public hearing where there was little apparent support for change, the select board voted unanimously to keep 911 operations in town.
Earlier this year, officials asked North Shore Regional 911 (NSR911) to prepare a feasibility report on absorbing Ipswich’s fire and police dispatch center.
Last month Durham City Council member DeDreana Freeman called 911 to report that a 17-year-old boy had been shot in the parking lot of a convenience store at East Main and South Elm streets.
Freeman, who lives in the community, heard gunshots while inside her home. Her husband went outside to see what was going on after they heard a woman screaming.
Four minutes passed before an emergency dispatcher answered her call.
Freeman told the INDY that the 911 line rang repeatedly while she watched the teen’s life energy bleed out into the asphalt…
Video and Data Analysis Address Risks for Responders
Several key technologies could help to support efforts by police to offload calls that don’t require a law enforcement response.
IDC Worldwide Research Vice President for Public Safety Alison Brooks points to video as a possible enabler. Police could, for example, use a livestream to give mental health professionals eyes on a scene — a potentially safer way of accessing those insights.
“In the traditional ride-along with mental health support, you’re putting that person in the police car and possibly exposing them to an element of danger,” Brooks says. With a video consultation, police can pull in the experts without putting them at risk.
Data analytics may also play a role in driving alternative responses by helping law enforcement understand which approaches work best for different types of calls. “You can use data to shift the response models so that the right people are actually intervening at the right time, including the social services folks,” Brooks says…
MERIDEN, Conn. (WTNH) — The Meriden Emergency Communications Center received a multi-million dollar grant. The purpose of the funds is to build a new facility where all your 911 calls will be coming in.
A delegation of state and city officials was on hand for the announcement Monday.
“We are proud to announce that we are receiving a $4 million grant,” Meriden Mayor Kevin Scarpati said.
That multi-million dollar grant was made possible by the State of Connecticut and a matching grant of $782,000 from the City of Meriden.
“It’s a vital investment and the safety of the city’s residents and for emergency personnel here, who courageously put their lives on the line every day,” Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz said…
PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Commission will discuss what will be in a new 911 center with ZMM Architects & Engineers of Charleston.
The commission chose the firm Monday for the renovation of the 18,000-square-foot former Suddenlink call center at U.S. 50 and Interstate 77 and to convert it into the new dispatching center.
“(ZMM) had a good understanding of our project,” Commission President Blair Couch said. “They had a concise plan … that would be the Taj Mahal of 911 centers. There is a lot of work we can do to keep the costs down and phase it in if necessary. What brought us to this is our need to expand our existing 911 services.” …
Learn about current efforts to continue to protect the 4.9 GHz Band for public safety as well as recent filings, key decisions impacting these efforts, and how you can support PSSA’s initiative to protect the 4.9 GHz band for public safety.
