Atlanta’s ‘Overlooked’ 9-1-1 Dispatchers Could Get Pay Hike (GA)

Over two years ago, when Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced a 30% pay raise for the city’s police officers, it was heralded as a big win for department morale, recruitment and retention.

Not included in that group of employees who got the bonus were the dozens of 9-1-1 operators who work in a call center on Peachtree Street less than a mile north of Atlanta Police Department headquarters. They answer thousands of emergency calls every day and dispatch police officers across the city, a demanding job made more stressful by the pandemic… READ MORE

Dispatch agreement set to expire as Butte County, Belle Fourche spar over terms (SD)

BELLE FOURCHE –– Although the Butte County Commission approved an updated three-year dispatch contract with Belle Fourche during its Dec. 15 meeting, the Belle Fourche City Council has yet to come to an agreement as the current contract expires Thursday.

The city of Belle Fourche has contracted with Butte County to provide dispatch operations since 2007… READ MORE

Shawnee Communications Center Earns State Recognition (OK)

This year, during a world-wide pandemic, Shawnee Communications Center processed thousands of calls for emergency assistance. Some of these calls for help were familiar, while others were new in nature and the way in which they were processed to maintain the safety of the scene responders and the citizens. Throughout the year, several telecommunicators were recognized for their efforts in saving lives and making 9-1-1 services better for the community… READ MORE  

JPD: Expect longer wait times for 911 calls (MS)

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Officials with the Jackson Police Department (JPD) say new software could increase wait times for individuals calling 911.

JPD is integrating “New World Tyler Public Safety Solutions” software in its emergency dispatch department.

The system requires “dispatch operators to gather and input more information to the Computer Aided Dispatch system, which requires operates to communicate longer with incoming callers,” according to JPD spokesman Sam Brown…

Local dispatchers reflect on quick actions to resolve 911 issues on Christmas (KY)

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) -Following the explosion in Downtown Nashville on Christmas morning, some AT&T users in the South Central Kentucky area began experiencing service problems. This included 911 operators at the Bowling Green Police Department.

Three dispatchers were working at the BGPD communication center on Christmas Day, including supervisor Ashley Rimington, Scott McDonald and Samantha McDonald, who all worked quickly to ensure the public could still contact them for help…