Washington Military Department Joins FirstNet® – America’s Public Safety Network
New Technologies Expand Our Capabilities to Better Serve the State of Washington
The Washington Military Department is connecting its disaster response and emergency management teams to FirstNet – the only nationwide, high-speed broadband communications platform dedicated to and purpose-built for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community. With this tech advancement, our state’s first responders and emergency management teams will be equipped with new capabilities and reliable access to critical information while in the field, allowing them to better serve those who live, work and visit Washington…
According to a press release, cellular customers with Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile/Sprint service can send a text to the city’s emergency dispatch center to request fire, police or emergency medical assistance.
Officials say that text messages to 911 should only be used when placing an emergency call isn’t an option, such as when a caller is deaf or speech-impaired, or when speaking out loud would put the caller in a dangerous situation…
(Editor’s note: This story first appeared in the summer 2021 issue of iConnect, the College of Information Sciences and Technology’s biannual magazine)
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — According to the International City Managers’ Association, nearly a quarter of emergency dispatch personnel experience symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and the national turnover rate of 911 dispatchers is more than 17%, according to the University of Georgia.
Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology alumna Sara Weston, class of 2005, is committed to serving those individuals through a new nonprofit, which raises money to provide mental health resources, training, outreach and other programming to emergency dispatchers. Named 911der Women — pronounced “nine-one-Wonder-Women” — the organization specifically supports the women who fill these roles…
DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC) – A new computerized radio system is helping the Scott Emergency Communications Center dispatch first responders faster.
The system, nicknamed Samantha, began a few weeks ago and is part of the G2 Phoenix Fire Alerting System. Right now, the Davenport Fire Dept. is using the system. The rest of the county is expected to follow by the end of the year.
When a dispatcher receives a call and begins entering the information into their computer, the system offers recommendations based on the type of call and its needs. Once dispatch hits accept, the system puts a call on the radio automatically…
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – Greenville Police is mourning the loss of an “invaluable member of the GPD family,” telecommunicator Brad Cayton, who died overnight, the department announced on Sunday.
Cayton, who was an emergency dispatcher, worked for more than 20 years and was known as someone who “dedicated his life to helping others in criss and even solved many a crime,” GPD said.
Cayton leaves behind his wife and children.
Greenville Police said there will be more tributes to follow… READ MORE
MANCHESTER — Members of the Manchester Police Department are still hesitant about the town looking to take its public safety dispatch operations to the North Shore Regional 911 Center in Middleton.
Selectmen and Town Administrator Greg Federspiel hosted a forum from last week to field questions from the public regarding the future of Manchester’s dispatch center. The town and fire Chief Jason Cleary would like to have two dispatchers on per shift, rather than the current one, who handles dispatch duties for the Police and Fire departments.
“Our objections to regionalization have always been about putting the needs of the community we serve first,” said Manchester police lead dispatcher Katie Elwell, on behalf of her fellow dispatchers, during a public forum Tuesday. “We do not believe that our community will achieve better services by joining an unproven and untested regional center with towns with which Manchester has minimal connections to. We perform services and take calls for residents that faceless outside dispatchers are simply not equipped to answer…
