NEW YORK – Carbyne, a global leader in public safety technology, has released the results of a three-phase pilot program using its emergency response platform c-Live Universe with the Georgia Department of Transportation, the first step in its partnership with the state. Through this program, Carbyne substantially reduced the average emergency and non-emergency response time, proving the power of its technology in streamlining its process for Georgia DOT.
Over the course of the three-month pilot period, the Georgia DOT gradually integrated Carbyne’s c-Live Universe technology to locate motorists on its interstate system, comparing its accuracy, efficiency and response time savings to that of its legacy processes…
AT&T announced that it had expanded 5G coverage for the FirstNet network to 10 more cities across the country.
First responders in Austin, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina; Cleveland, Ohio; Dallas; El Paso, Texas; Houston, Texas; Knoxville, Tennessee; Phoenix; Raleigh, North Carolina; and San Antonio Texas now have access to 5G on the FirstNet network. Additionally, first responders in parts of 38 cities and more than 20 venues have access to AT&T millimeter wave spectrum.
Meanwhile, AT&T also announced that it launched nationwide interoperability between the FirstNet network and AT&T’s emergency services IP network (ESInet) solution. The carrier said that this connection allows FirstNet to serve as a wireless backup to connect public-safety answering points (PSAPs) and enable the delivery of IP-based 9-1-1 call traffic through the AT&T virtual private network…
What’s the news?FirstNet® – the only nationwide network built with and for America’s first responders – is keeping public safety connected unlike any other network. Here’s 3 strategic ways:
Expanding the FirstNet 5G footprint: As public safety’s communications partner, AT&T* has expanded 5G connectivity for first responders on FirstNet to further support public safety’s mission needs. Now, first responders in an additional 10 cities across the United States – Austin (Texas), Charlotte (N. Carolina), Cleveland (Ohio), Dallas (Texas), El Paso (Texas), Houston (Texas), Knoxville (Tenn.), Phoenix (Ariz.), Raleigh (N. Carolina) and San Antonio (Texas) –have access to 5G.
Deploying MegaRange™ for Disaster Response: Since launching FirstNet MegaRange earlier this year – which significantly improves connectivity, especially at the edge of network coverage – public safety has started experiencing its exclusive benefits as they respond to everyday emergencies and disasters. From remote patient care to the frontlines of wildfire response, MegaRange is keeping first responders connected at the edge of coverage when lives are on the line.
Launching nationwide interoperability with AT&T ESInet: To increase the flexibility and resiliency of AT&T NextGen 9-1-1 services, AT&T ESInet is now integrated with the FirstNet network. By serving as an automatic wireless backup to connect to public safety answering points (PSAP), FirstNet enables the delivery of IP-based 9-1-1 call traffic through the AT&T Virtual Private Network (VPN)…
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) – A just-completed internal investigation has found three violations in the moments leading up to the death of Phoenix 911 operator Pamela Cooper earlier this year.
The 48-year-old dispatcher had just returned to work in late February after five weeks at home recovering from COVID-19. On her fourth day back to work, she was assigned to work “mandatory hold over,” resulting in a 15-hour workday. She worked the longer shift, despite the fact that she made repeated complaints to her supervisor that she did not feel well. The following morning, she was taken to the hospital. She died six days later.
(“Mandatory hold over” is different from “mandatory overtime.” Mandatory overtime is scheduled in advance. Mandatory hold over is required when there are unexpected staffing shortages that day, according to the department.)
Cooper’s death prompted widespread media coverage, along with a variety of claims made by her family, co-workers, and union representatives. Her husband said he was convinced the City of Phoenix was to blame. “It was stupid, and it was unprofessional,” said Joel Cooper. “It showed how they care about employees – they don’t – and it cost me, my wife. I have to live with that for the rest of my life.” He has since filed a $35 million wrongful death notice of claim against the City of Phoenix.
According to the notice of claim, “Cooper explained… that she was feeling ill, that her oxygen level had significantly dropped… having trouble breathing.” The claim states that when she was told to work the extra hours, Cooper told the supervisor, “I might die, but O.K.” The supervisor’s alleged response: “Please don’t. Not on my watch.”
“There has to be repercussions for that,” said Joel Cooper at the time. “It cost someone their life for the simple fact they did not follow protocol and send them home because they weren’t feeling well. It’s ridiculous. It’s absolutely ridiculous, and there no excuse for it at all.”
The internal investigation found three policy violations in the department:
On February 26, 2021, Cooper informed her supervisor that if they mandated her to work overtime, she would go home in an ambulance.
The report does confirm Cooper was asked to work the additional hours, but there’s no evidence that shows she would be disciplined if she declined to do it. The investigation shows that the department did communicate with workers that they could decline “hold over hours” and would not be disciplined.
Additionally, the report states that Cooper had what is known in the Communications Bureau as a “free pass” that she could have used to be excused from the mandated holdover without question or repercussion. The report states did not request to use her free pass when assigned to stay.
As a result of the investigation, the department says it will make the following changes:
Issue corrective action to the Communications Supervisor that mandated the holdover, to whom Cooper reported symptoms of illness.
Develop a communication policy for the Communications Supervisors to assist them in sharing information, such as overtime exceptions and return-to-work issues.
Update the Police Department COVID Positive Worksheet to include directions for staff members who receive positive test results while at work. Those employees should be sent home immediately, and the worksheet completed later.
Dan Wilson with the City of Phoenix said: “Dispatch center employees work four days per week on 10 hour shifts. When minimum staffing needs are not met, employees may be required to work during their three days off or work extended hours. However at no time would this be required of an employee who is sick as employees who notify their supervisor of illness are instructed to return home.”
The Phoenix Police Department has been previously criticized for how it handles staffing shortages.
According to the new report, the department is continuing to work on solutions to staffing shortages. Prior to this incident, the department was already in the process of implementing changes to recruiting and staffing methods, to include higher pay for Police Communications Operators. The Police Department has also developed a plan to completely revise schedules to better accommodate operational needs and reduce mandatory overtime for staff by more than 84%.
The statewide public safety answering point consolidation plan report Federal Engineering presented the Arkansas 911 Board earlier this summer recommended the city of Hot Springs move its PSAP into Garland County’s 911 Communications Center.
The recommendation took the city by surprise, given that Federal Engineering advised it to expand the PSAP/dispatch center inside the police department as part of the more than $6 million communications upgrade the city’s been working on since 2017. That expense included the $415,062 contract the Hot Springs Board of Directors awarded Federal Engineering for consulting services.
Federal Engineering is the company “we used to come up with our radio communication plan as well as our PSAP dispatch plan,” City Manager Bill Burrough told the board at its 2022 goal setting/budget priorities work session last month. “We’ve invested several million dollars in our communication and 911 dispatch center…
The last time St. Joseph County officials considered carving out a chunk of income tax money to pay for the 911 dispatch center, the plan stalled after backlash from libraries, townships and other public agencies that would lose money.
Now, officials are once again moving forward with the plan, which would set up a dedicated funding stream for the 911 center by diverting income tax money that goes to a wide range of public bodies.
That would mean big savings for the county and Mishawaka city governments — but would require smaller government units to share the cost of the 911 center for the first time by giving up some of their income tax money…
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.
