The poor condition of the U.S. Park Police’s dispatch center in Washington, D.C., and management issues such as understaffing result in “significant safety concerns,” a watchdog found recently. The Interior Department inspector general office, led by Inspector General...

In an emergency when seconds count, a FOX 11 investigation has found that 911 callers are burning seconds, even minutes on hold.  Experts say it's a troubling trend nationwide, hold times getting longer because of a shortage of dispatchers. We worked with our...

Wake County is switching up how it handles 911 calls, employing nurses to help answer the phones. People who call 911 for something that only turns out to be a small health problem could end up riding in an ambulance and paying an expensive bill afterward, but the...

Chicago Police Department SUV blocking an intersection in the Albany Park neighborhood in Chicago. Lindsay Blanton, CEO of Broadcastify.com and RadioReference.com announced Tuesday morning, February 22, 2022 on the websites’ Chicago Metro Area Discussion forum that...

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — They’re the vital link between victims in need of help and their first responders, but 911 dispatchers said months of mandatory 12-hour shifts have put themselves and the public at risk. “They’re doing the best that they can do, but you all know...

Arlington 911 dispatcher at the county’s Emergency Communications Center (via Arlington County) Arlington County is developing an alert system aimed at improving its emergency response to behavioral health crises. The aim of the system, dubbed the Marcus Alert, is to...

Last month, an alarm went off in a historic building in Arlington National Cemetery after a sprinkler pipe broke. An emergency signal was sent to the U.S. Park Police dispatch center in southeast Washington. But the dispatch center receives security alarms on a...

SANTA CRUZ — The Santa Cruz County emergency response dispatch center has its thumb on the pulse of regional police and fire trends, documenting the second year of the pandemic’s impact on local services in its latest report. The Santa Cruz County Regional 9-1-1...

Three public safety workers from Whitfield County received Life Saving Awards after combining forces to rescue a 71-year-old man from a burning home in January.  Honored with plaques for going “above and beyond the call of duty,” according to Commission Chairman...

FAIRFIELD — When an emergency call comes in, a dispatcher takes down the information, shares it with the other needed departments and sends out the needed responders. But with the new Westport-Fairfield regional dispatch center all of that will be streamlined,...

Another two dozen happened today (Feb. 25) following the Amber Alert and Halton Regional Police want to reduce that number. Halton police are asking residents to be mindful of how they store their electronic devices as new emergency features on both iOS and Android...

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has announced that Karima Holmes will be returning to the Office of Unified Communications as acting director, less than two years after an audit determined the city’s 911 system fell short of national standards. Bowser made the announcement...

Police stations say to call the "routine" phone number if you have trouble reporting an emergency. HARTFORD, Conn. — Multiple police departments in the state say they are experiencing problems with their emergency 9-1-1 calls.  Two town police departments, Waterbury...

The plans for a new Emergency Operations Center were first addressed by Creek County Commissioners back in August of 2021 when the feasibility study was sent. Now, the designs for the building are back. The new building designs include a covered carport area for...

Coming on the heels of Madison County’s dispatching merger with Norfolk, a new regional approach to dispatching is taking place across the Northeast Nebraska region. Norfolk Police Chief Don Miller explained the new approach Tuesday evening to the Norfolk City...

The Westfield Fire Department launched a free app this week to allow residents to share information about their household to help fire personnel respond better in the event of an emergency. Westfield Fire has been working with technology partner First Due to release...

LEBANON, Tenn. (WKRN) — The mayor of Lebanon is making changes to the city’s emergency dispatch system, but not all public safety leaders are on board. Right now, Wilson County 911 dispatchers make calls directly to the Lebanon Fire Department, but Mayor Rick Bell’s...

Emergency dispatchers would be considered first responders under new legislation being considered in Springfield. Senate Bill 3127 would amend various laws to include emergency medical dispatchers in reference to first responders, giving them the same recognition...