by AllThingsECC.com | Sep 9, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
Drones—Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
Concern is growing within the public-safety ranks about citizens flying drones over incidents that call for first responders. When incidents involve wildfires, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) usually declares no-fly zones up to 5,000 feet above the fires. I am told some drones can receive no-fly zone alerts and they will not fly into no-fly areas. Unfortunately, more common, less expensive drones do not have that capability.
When a drone is reported in the area of an incident, planes and helicopters (helos) are grounded and cannot assist when needed during wildfires and under certain other circumstances. Because of this, many within the public-safety community are calling for the FAA and potentially the FCC to permit public-safety personnel to disable drones flown by citizens or reporters and to recommend ways to do so. It is reckless for people to continue to fly drones into areas where public safety must be able to monitor the safety of equipment and personnel assisting them from above. There are hefty fines for violating FAA rules but first, someone has to find the person flying the drone and he/she must be arrested. Perhaps some of our military’s methods for disabling drones would be appropriate for public-safety use…
by AllThingsECC.com | Sep 8, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
The National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released the final version of a Cybersecurity Practice Guide for first responders.
The NIST Cybersecurity Practice Guide SP 1800-13, Mobile Application Single Sign-On: Improving Authentication for Public Safety First Responders (PSFRs) was developed in collaboration with industry stakeholders and NIST’s Public Safety Communications Research Lab.
To provide emergency care and support, PSFR personnel rely on mobile platforms to access public safety data. Among the data that PSFRs must access in the performance of their roles is personally identifiable information, law enforcement sensitive information, and protected health information…
by AllThingsECC.com | Sep 8, 2021 | Comm Center News
HEADLAND, Ala. (WTVY) – Henry County first responders are in the process of transitioning to a unified dispatch. The county’s E-911 director believes it’s a move in the right direction for the citizens.
E-911 Director Chad Sowell says this is about providing the best emergency response service.
“The transition has just been getting equipment installed at the city of Headland for the Headland Police Department, making sure we can accommodate the extra call volume,” Sowell said…
by AllThingsECC.com | Sep 8, 2021 | Comm Center News
CHICAGO (CBS) — Keith Thornton Jr. was the guiding voice during our city’s most recent line-of-duty tragedy – the murder of Chicago Police Officer Ella French.
The Office of Emergency Management and Communications dispatcher was applauded for his decisive action over the radio that night.
CBS 2 Investigator Megan Hickey sat down with Thornton to talk about that night — and his campaign to change the future for dispatchers in the future…
by ECC Editor | Sep 8, 2021 | Comm Center News, Opinions
Candace Baker, a New York Police dispatcher on Sept. 11, 2001 who spent the whole day taking missing persons calls, tells Newsmax that Americans need to return to the sense of unity and compassion that united them in the days following the terrorist attacks that left nearly 3,000 fellow Americans dead.
“I think that immediately after 9/11, you saw a lot more kindness,” Baker said Monday on “The Chris Salcedo Show.” “You saw a lot more camaraderie. You saw a lot more respect for law enforcement.”
But as time has passed, a lot of that has diminished, she lamented… READ MORE
by AllThingsECC.com | Sep 8, 2021 | Comm Center News
JOPLIN, Mo. — More and more emergency dispatch centers are seeing “help wanted” signs.
The Jasper County 9-1-1 call center has seen openings staying at three to four positions. The Joplin city dispatch currently has five positions unfilled.
They’re just part of an industry-wide trend that has national rates at 15 – 20 percent. The Jasper County dispatch director says the job requires a unique set of skills…
