by ECC Editor | Jul 2, 2021 | Comm Center News
VANCOUVER–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Record high temperatures during the historic heat wave in B.C. have taken their toll on Lower Mainland 9-1-1 operators, who this past weekend were swamped by a record-breaking number of calls and stretched to the limit in their ability to answer them all, says the union representing workers at E-Comm Emergency Communications for BC.
“Between the heat wave, the province-wide restart, and a 9-1-1 operator staffing shortage, there simply aren’t enough of us to get to these calls as quickly as we need to,” said CUPE 8911 (Emergency Communications Professionals of BC) President Donald Grant.
“When you call 9-1-1, seconds count. Delays can lead to property damage, injuries, and even death. When you’re on hold we feel your frustration, pain and suffering. We are working as hard as we can to get to your call, but we are stretched to the limit… READ MORE
by ECC Editor | Jul 2, 2021 | Comm Center News
At Tuesday morning’s meeting of Bloomington and Monroe County’s five-member central dispatch policy board, assistant fire chief Jayme Washel reacted to a statement by dispatch director Amy Hensley, that the center has 11 vacant dispatcher positions.
“I don’t know for sure, but 11 sounds like an awful lot of [dispatcher] positions to be down,” Washel said. He asked for confirmation: “Is that right?”
“That’s correct,” came Hensley’s reply.
Dispatchers are the staff who answer 911 emergency calls at the central dispatch facility, located on the second floor of the downtown transit center at 3rd and Walnut streets… READ MORE
by AllThingsECC.com | Jul 2, 2021 | Comm Center News
Alexandria, VA — Today, U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL), Norma Torres (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Peter Meijer (R-MI) introduced the Providing Resources and Occupational Training for Emotional Crisis and Trauma in 9-1-1 Act, or the ‘‘PROTECT 9-1-1 Act.” If enacted, this bipartisan legislation would establish several measures to advance health and wellness for public safety telecommunicators including: establishing a system for tracking public safety telecommunicator suicides; developing best practices to identify, prevent, and treat posttraumatic stress disorder in public safety telecommunicators; developing resources to help mental health professionals better treat these personnel; and establishing grants for health and wellness programs in emergency communications centers…
by AllThingsECC.com | Jul 1, 2021 | Comm Center News
The Watertown Police Department welcomed Troy VanDusen back to its staff. VanDusen will serve in the newly created role of 911 Communications Manager, a position that manages and directs all activities in Watertown’s 911 center.
VanDusen is a graduate of Watertown High School and also holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from National American University. VanDusen first joined the Watertown PD as a 911 Dispatcher in 1996. He went on to serve as a sworn police officer for the Watertown PD for more than twenty-two years. VanDusen is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy, a professional development course for U.S. and international law enforcement leaders. He was elected to the Codington County Commission in 2016 and 2020 and continues to serve as a County Commissioner. VanDusen retired from the Watertown PD as Sergeant in 2019. For the past two years, he worked as the News Director for KXLG radio…
by AllThingsECC.com | Jul 1, 2021 | Comm Center News
Owensboro-Daviess County 911 Director Paul Nave has seen major changes over his career in the way the dispatch center receives emergency calls.
Those changes were largely caused by advances in technology, which, paradoxically, created challenges.
“We have gone back in time, if you will,” Nave told members of the Owensboro Rotary Club on Wednesday during the club’s virtual meeting on Zoom.
In 2000, 85% to 90% of all calls to 911 were from landlines, Nave said. For dispatch, a landline provided an exact address, so dispatchers would know where to send emergency responders…
by AllThingsECC.com | Jul 1, 2021 | Comm Center News
BOZEMAN — Gallatin County 911 and Montana State University announced Thursday morning that their emergency dispatch centers have officially merged operations, a move officials say will better serve the entire community moving forward. The county and MSU recently signed an inter-local agreement solidifying the merger. The move means that MSU dispatch responsibilities will be transferred to Gallatin County 911. As part of the merger, MSU is transferring four current dispatch staff members and two additional budgeted positions to Gallatin County 911…
