CHARLESTON, Mo. (KFVS) – The Charleston Department of Public Safety has announced that a Communications Officer who has served for almost two decades has passed away.
In a statement, the Charleston Department of Public Safety said Shalonda Sinks-Chappell served in the role since 2003.
The statement said she passed away from complications associated with COVID-19 on 9/11…
BLOUNTVILLE — Anyone who is not old enough to remember the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 might take two words for granted.
Homeland security.
In the wake of 9/11, President George W. Bush founded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at the federal level. States and local governments across the nation implemented programs to follow and enforce the agency’s protocols and guidelines in order to receive federal grants to increase security measures. The Tennessee Department of Public Safety became The Tennessee Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security. Emergency management agencies across the state are now divided into geographic subsets identified as Homeland Security Districts…
In July of 1999, Ipswich transitioned its emergency communication staffing from sworn police officers to a group of civilian personnel specifically trained and experienced in this rapidly complex task.
Dedicated professionals, their duties include call taking, dispatching police/fire and ambulance services, and assisting members of the public who enter the station-house lobby.
They provide police officers with the timely and accurate broadcast of emergencies, calls for assistance, and partner in their safety during vehicle stops when criminal history or operator information is requested…
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) –Durham residents are concerned about having to wait longer for someone to answer 911 calls, as the percentage of call taker vacancies in the Bull City has grown to almost 50 percent.
Durham city officials said during a city council work session on Thursday that there are 28 vacant positions out of 60 at the Durham Emergency Communications Center. That’s up from the 26 vacancies city officials said they had in May 2021, when they said there were seven people in training… READ MORE
MULTNOMAH COUNTY, Ore. (KPTV) – The Bureau of Emergency Communications is looking into solutions to address high call volumes that translate to long waits for 9-1-1 callers.
In November, 2020, the average wait for an answer when someone called 9-1-1 was 21 seconds, very close to the national standard of 20 seconds. But by May, 2021, the average wait had increased to 42 seconds, and reached 56 seconds by July.
“This is completely unacceptable. I want to be able to provide service,” said BOEC Director Bob Cozzie. “I’m a member of the community. I live in Multnomah County, and my family lives in this community.”
Cozzie said call volume to BOEC increased by more than 20% from July, 2020 to July, 2021. In addition, more than a dozen people on the operations floor either retired, took leaves of absence, were promoted, or resigned… READ MORE
FOLKSTON, Ga. — The Charlton County Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of one of their own.
Sheriff Robert Phillips took to social media to announce the death of Lynn Cribb Johnson, a beloved 911 dispatcher.
The sheriff’s office confirmed to Action News Jax that she died after contracting COVID-19.
Johnson was an employee of the sheriff’s office for more than 31 years. Phillips described her as a caring person who showed concern for others like a mother would…
