by AllThingsECC.com | Aug 3, 2021 | Comm Center News
PHOTO BY DAVE DECKERCommunity activists in Tampa have been calling for changes in the conventional police response to mental health crises. And in its own way, the city is now heeding the call.
After more than a year of debate between Tampa city leaders and community activists about the role police officers should play in responding to mental health crisis calls, the Tampa Police Department (TPD) has partnered with the Agency for Community Treatment Services (ACTS) to launch a Behavioral Health Unit.
Proposed as a one-year pilot program, this new unit will have teams of licensed mental health professionals and police officers respond—together—to emergency calls in the community…
by ECC Editor | Aug 3, 2021 | Comm Center News
FLOYD COUNTY Ky. (WSAZ) – Starting Monday, the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office launched a text message tip line. These messages will go straight to deputies in their cruisers.
“It would increase the response time and speed of how we react to something that requires urgent attention,” said Sheriff John Hunt.
With their current tip line, tips come into an answering machine, which are downloaded a few times a day. This line will eliminate a middle man.
“The communication breaks down between the caller and the dispatcher and back to the deputy, and then the deputy is having to go back to the dispatcher to find out more information so they’re excited they get it direct,” Hunt said… READ MORE
by AllThingsECC.com | Aug 2, 2021 | Comm Center News
Due to the mental health crisis, the number of calls to the Bakersfield Police Department dispatch center was the highest. Currently, the city wants to have an expert in charge of these calls before the police have to respond.
On Wednesday, Bakersfield City Council will vote to place a behavioral medical clinician at the city’s Law Enforcement Communications Center to handle non-urgent mental health calls. According to the Kern County Behavioral Health Recovery Service provided to clinicians, this arrangement is one of the first in the country.
A unique partnership is an attempt to reduce law enforcement contact with individuals who are better served by mental health professionals. If someone calls in a mental health crisis that does not require immediate police response, the coordinator forwards the call to the clinician, who assesses what services are needed…
by ECC Editor | Aug 2, 2021 | Comm Center News
DODGE COUNTY (WKOW) — The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office is asking for your help to reduce the number of 911 hang-up calls they receive.
The sheriff’s office said law enforcement has a responsibility to respond to 911 calls even when a caller hangs up, and that is currently the department’s policy.
The sheriff’s office said with some hang-up calls, an individual may need help but be unable to speak.
Other times, the caller is intimidated by someone else who doesn’t want them to report an incident, a common occurrence in domestic violence situations. Because of this, officials need to respond to 911 hang-ups to ensure those who called can get the help they need… READ MORE
by AllThingsECC.com | Aug 2, 2021 | Comm Center News
The city says they are merging some call operations between the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office and Toledo Police.
A change is coming to the way the Toledo Police Department handles non-emergency phone calls.
Gretchen Debacker, legislative director with Mayor Wade Kapszukiwicz’s office confirmed to WTOL 11 on Sunday that they are merging some call operations between the Lucas County Sheriff’s Office and Toledo Police.
The non-emergency number will not change…
by ECC Editor | Aug 2, 2021 | Articles, Comm Center News
It’s a terrifying scenario, it’s 2:37 AM, you’re asleep in your own bed and suddenly you’re awakened by sound, a criminal has broken into your home. You pick up your cell phone and dial 9-1-1, the operator answers, you’re frightened and trying to be quiet so the criminal doesn’t hear you. “I’m at 1808 Dillon Ave” you whisper – “you’re at 1868 Dillan correct” the 9-1-1 operator says – “just hurry” you say in a panicked whisper.
In 2019 there was a 9-1-1 call and 15-year-old Dennis King died because police were mistakenly sent to 3356 N. 10th Street instead of 3356 N. 12th Street. As crime rates across the country rise an increasing number of Americans are coming to the realization of a serious problem, when you call 9-1-1 from a cell phone they do not know you’re location; the best they can do is to narrow your location down to an area between 25,000 square feet and 27,000,000 square feet… READ MORE
