DECATUR, Ala. —  The Decatur Police Department is switching to encrypted digital radio and dispatch communications to better protect officers, safeguard victims, and secure active investigations, city officials said.

Williamson County Emergency Communications has reached a significant milestone in emergency dispatch by earning its Emergency Medical Dispatch Accredited Center of Excellence designation, becoming the first Tri-ACE accredited emergency communications center in Texas and the 32nd in the world.

This 911 call center never sleeps, fielding about 4,000 calls every day. In 2025 alone, the lines have lit up 2.1 million times.

SAN ANTONIO — When emergencies happen, most of us dial 9-1-1 and wait for help. But before police officers, firefighters or paramedics arrive, a calm voice on the other end of the line is already at work – guiding callers through chaos and gathering the information that can save lives.

Weld County’s dispatchers answer about 350,000 calls per year, getting people emergency help at a moment’s notice across more than 4,000 square miles.In addition to sending police, fire or medical help, dispatchers at the Weld County Regional Communications Center help connect people with police administrative services.

Lawrence County consolidates law enforcement dispatch with 911 Center.

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta 911 center has been named 2025 Communications Center of the Year at the Georgia Emergency Communications Conference in Athens.

MOBILE, Ala. (NBC 15) — The Mobile County Communications District (MCCD), the county’s 9-1-1 emergency communications center, has become the first 9-1-1 service in Alabama to achieve accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), a nationally recognized credentialing authority for public safety agencies.

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Local emergency officials believe a new, unified 911 dispatch center in the northwest valley will improve response and coordination among agencies. I spoke with Clark County Fire Chief Billy Samuels about how this new facility could make for a swifter response in your time of need and what sparked the idea for this inter-agency collaboration.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire and EMS units ideally arrive within about four minutes — and paramedics within eight minutes — 90% of the time. Local factors, including staffing, call volume, traffic, and weather, can affect response times.

A Northampton County 911 dispatcher is being celebrated for helping an armed man with dementia surrender safely to police on Thursday. The 71-year-old allegedly held a handgun toward his wife Thursday afternoon as he stood in a hallway of their Lehigh Township home, police said.

“We truly appreciate your advocacy for Guthrie and for all of District Five. This is a great day for our city,” Faulkner said in the closing remarks.

In an emergency, we pick up the phone and dial 9-1-1 without much thought as to whether someone will answer. 

Centers that earn ACE status are the embodiment of dispatching done right, and have demonstrated strong local oversight, rigorous quality assurance processes and a commitment to data-driven continuous improvement. 

“Every 911 call represents someone who needs help, and our job is to deliver calm, professional and life-saving assistance,” said Jeff Williford, director of emergency communications. “IAED accreditation reflects the dedication of our telecommunicators and our continued focus on quality, accountability and public safety. I’m extremely proud of our team and the service they provide our community every day.”

“We’re going to do CPR, OK?” asked dispatcher Sophia Zervos. “Are you with your child right now?”

These data sources can come from 911 calls, Internet of Things technology, and other software systems used by first responders.

“All of that connects to the CAD. And with the legacy CAD system we had that wasn’t necessarily [the case],” Saur said. “There was some legacy connections. But as technology changes rapidly, they’re looking for interfaces that a cloud connection can easily do.”