Temple ISD students receive 911 certifications in hopes of filling open dispatcher positions one day (TX)

TEMPLE, TX — Being a 911 operator is a high stress job that requires months of extensive training. 911 professionals are oftentimes the first point of contact when an emergency occurs.

The training and certification process to become a 911 operator is extremely rigorous and requires a lot of training. While some may shy away from a job, a group of Temple ISD students is diving in head first… READ MORE

Pascrell Leads Call to Modernize 9-1-1 Infrastructure

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), the co-chair of the House Law Enforcement Caucus and the co-chair of the House Fire Services Caucus, today led a letter to House leadership urging inclusion of the Next Generation 9-1-1 Act in the upcoming infrastructure package. The legislation would provide $15 billion to update America’s 9-1-1 infrastructure, protect against cyber threats, and ensure that first responders will be able to efficiently use upgraded 9-1-1 technology to save lives. The letter was also signed by Fire Services Caucus co-chairs Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), and Mike Bost (R-IL-12), and Law Enforcement Caucus co-chair John Rutherford (R-FL-04)… READ MORE

911 call center may be axed at Austin Police Department, a $16M funding decrease (TX)

911 call center may be axed at Austin Police Department, a $16M funding decrease (TX)

AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Thursday, Austin City Council members will vote on an ordinance that would create an Emergency Communications Department to handle 911 calls, separate from Austin Police Department.

This is the latest item up for a vote in the city’s efforts to reimagine public safety.

If approved, 222 civilian positions within APD’s current call center would be transferred out of the police department. The move would decrease funding for APD by more than $16 million…

Bannockburn To Pay Deerfield $1M For Emergency Dispatch Services (IL)

Bannockburn To Pay Deerfield $1M For Emergency Dispatch Services (IL)

DEERFIELD, IL — When you’ve been working together for 40 years, what’s another five. The Deerfield Village Board voted Monday to approve an emergency dispatch service agreement between the Village of Deerfield and the Village of Bannockburn.

As part of the agreement, Deerfield will continue providing 24-hour a day answering of all emergency 9-1-1 and police 10-digit emergency telephone calls emanating from within the borders of Bannockburn, among other services, at a total cost of $1,020,216…

‘A sense of respect.’ Emergency dispatchers back legislation to classify them as certified first responders (NY)

‘A sense of respect.’ Emergency dispatchers back legislation to classify them as certified first responders (NY)

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When looking at the minimum qualifications and the amount of training that go into shaping a successful emergency dispatcher and pairing that with the competence required in taking a 9-1-1 call, it certainly is puzzling that these professionals are classified by New York State and the federal government as “clerical” workers.

That is the thinking of Director Steven Sharpe, Assistant Director Frank Riccobono and the staff at the Genesee County Emergency Dispatch Center, who are applauding companion bills recently introduced in the state Senate and Assembly to change the classification of dispatchers…

Burnsville needs more emergency responders, Fire Chief says (MN)

Burnsville needs more emergency responders, Fire Chief says (MN)

Burnsville Fire Chief BJ Jungmann says inadequate staffing levels and increasing 911 calls have caused the city’s combined fire and ambulance service to fall behind the demands of the community. 

In recent years, there’ve been more than 150 incidents when the department had no units available to dispatch to an emergency, Jugmann told the Burnsville City Council during a work session this month…