Manchester Police Department promotes two (VT)

by | Sep 14, 2021 | Comm Center News

MANCHESTER — The Manchester Police Department has announced two promotions within the department.

Chief Patrick Owens said Jesse Bravata has been promoted to sergeant and dispatcher Tom Best has been named the director of communications for the department replacing the Bob Mattison who retired about a year and a half ago.

Best has been with MPD since February 2017, but he has more than a dozen years of experience before that.

Best dispatched at the Vermont State Police in the Rutland Public Safety Answering Point from 2003 to 2015. He dispatched for Rutland and Bennington counties including two dozen fire, EMS and muncipal police departments…

Arlington 911 center responds to concerns about staffing, safety (VA)

Arlington 911 center responds to concerns about staffing, safety (VA)

by | Sep 14, 2021 | Comm Center News

The head of Arlington, Virginia’s Emergency Communications Center is addressing concerns that its current setup is problematic and even potentially dangerous.

“We are like every other 911 center in the country, which has traditionally struggled with staffing,” center administrator Dave Mulholland told WTOP. “We’re going to be very honest in acknowledging not every shift has optimal staffing.”

However, Mulholland maintains that crucial positions have always remained filled, and that more people are being trained to fill needed roles.

In an email, a spokesperson said that while the center is now technically at full staffing levels after a previous shortage, approximately 30% of staff are in training and cannot yet work independently…

APCO Microwave Services Supporting Public Safety Communications

APCO Microwave Services Supporting Public Safety Communications

by | Sep 14, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News

APCO’s Spectrum Management Division (AFC) now offers Engineering and Licensing services for microwave systems in support of Public Safety Communications. The new services generally consist of the licensing of new, or modifications of existing Point-to-Point (PtP) radio links and Multiple Access Systems (MAS). Furthermore, an applicant may contact ACPO to re-license an expired call sign, or in some cases, we can petition the FCC for reconsideration to avoid cancellation of a license under certain circumstances. Additional services include Path Design, Path Status/Frequency Protection monitoring for point-to-point links, and assistance with the required FAA Studies and FCC Tower Registration…



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Shakeup coming to New Castle County Police leadership with promotions (DE)

Shakeup coming to New Castle County Police leadership with promotions (DE)

by | Sep 14, 2021 | Comm Center News

vaughn bond

County Executive Matt Meyer announced Tuesday he was nominating current New Castle County Chief of Police Vaughn Bond for the position of New Castle County Public Safety Director.

“This is a great day for the public safety of our communities and for the long-term future of our fine police department,” said Meyer. “Col. Bond will go down in history as a trailblazer for this department and for this county. He made courageous decisions to invest in community policing and mental health and substance use treatment before it became popular to do so. Col. Bond has also shown unprecedented commitment to diversity in his leadership team.”

Bond, who was the first Black police chief for New Castle County and promoted the department’s first female Lieutenant Colonel Wendi Freeser, would oversee the Divisions of Police, Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Communications, and the Office of Emergency Management while collaborating with the fire service in his new position…

Our disaster communications are failing first responders and citizens

Our disaster communications are failing first responders and citizens

by | Sep 14, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News

As public safety leaders and longtime citizens of cities directly impacted on Sept. 11, 2001., frontline workers’ responses deeply affected us. What happened that day continues to inform our approach to public safety and inspires us to work harder.

Twenty years ago, the frontline workers who responded to the horrific attacks in New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania were unable to share a simple radio message and communications networks were overwhelmed.

Interoperability — the ability of the frontline to communicate with each other even if they use different telecom carriers — is critical to allow them to do their jobs safely and effectively and keep Americans safe. It allows first responders to coordinate their actions with full situational awareness of what is happening around them…