Comm Center News
FirstNet innovates disaster recovery for emergency management
By Bruce Fitzgerald, Senior Public Safety Advisor, First Responder Network Authority FirstNet helps with the four phases of emergency management – preparedness(link is external), response(link is external), recovery, and mitigation. I’d like to dive deeper...
Durham 911 call taker says training struggles, worker burnout have led to ongoing operator shortage (NC)
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) – Almost half of the 911 operator positions in Durham are vacant, according to data on the city of Durham’s website. There are currently 28 vacancies out of 60 call taker positions, according to the website. One year ago when CBS 17 first started...
Appeals Court Denies Petitions for Review of Unlicensed Use of 6 GHz
An appeals court rejected petitions for review from multiple organizations asking that the FCC’s rules allowing unlicensed use in the 6 GHz band be remanded back to the FCC for reconsideration. In April 2020, the FCC adopted rules allowing for unlicensed use of the 6...
Answering the call: O.C. Emergency communications will move to state-of-the-art dispatch center (VA)
While law enforcement officers and fire & EMS crews are out on the front lines responding to emergencies, the unsung heroes of the 911 dispatch team are operating behind closed doors, cooped up in a small room in the basement of the Gordon building on West Main...
Public safety officials respond to concerns about emergency response times (GA)
Habersham citizens have shared their frustrations and concerns with slow response times from the county’s emergency services online, and citizens brought those concerns forward at Tuesday night’s public safety town hall meeting. At Habersham County Commissioner Bruce...
No more ‘Band-Aids’ and ‘bubblegum.’ Norwich dispatch radios to see much-needed upgrades. (CT)
With $3.4 million in federal funding provided through the American Rescue Plan, Norwich City Council gave the green light for a series of substantial upgrades to the city’s antiquated emergency dispatch system. “We have known for a decade, maybe longer, that our...
Jefferson City Police Department proposes hiring incentives to combat staffing shortage (MO)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Jefferson City's Public Safety Committee unanimously voted Thursday morning to move forward with hiring incentives for police officers and communications operators. The proposal will now go to the city council for approval. If approved, the...
Sumner County approves bonus pay for first responders (OR)
The Sumner County Commission approved the expenditure of almost $2.9 million from American Rescue Plan funds for COVID-19 hazard pay for first responders in the county. At its Dec. 13 meeting, commissioners allocated $2,892,350 for bonus pay for the county EMS,...
Welcome two heroes: how two women saved their lives on the 911 phone (OH)
A 21-year-old Chaglin Valley dispatcher said on a phone call that helped the unconscious woman get her pulse back, giving all the glory to the stranger. Chaglin Falls, Ohio — A Chagrin Valley Dispatcher After helping to save a woman’s life on the phone, she is greeted...
Lake County emergency medical dispatch center re-accredited (FL)
TAVARES — Lake County and the Office of Public Safety Support have been approved for re-accreditation as an Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) for emergency dispatching. The re-accreditation is awarded by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED) and...
Behind the scenes of 911 Call center as staffing crisis continues (AZ)
TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - Door dash driver Ryan Menehune’s call to 911 after a customer threatened to shoot him fell well outside the goal to answer emergency calls. “I started making my exit around the corner to where I had parked. And that’s when I heard him...
Dora VFD warns its Douglas County residents of 911 issue (MO)
The Dora Volunteer Fire Department recently warned residents who live within their fire territory in Douglas County that their new 911 service has caused some confusion during recent emergency situations. “…Douglas County initiated a partial 911 emergency line. While...
Albany County adds three new 911 dispatchers to help with shortages, rising call volume (NY)
ALBANY COUNTY , NY (WRGB) — Albany County has added three new dispatcher positions at its 911 center to combat a growing number of calls as other dispatch centers struggle with a shrinking workforce. “What’s happening is that people are dialing 911 and the phone...
Auditors to scrutinize construction of new public safety building (CA)
Seeking to contain the costs of its largest infrastructure project — a new public safety building in the California Avenue business district — Palo Alto has charged its city auditor with examining every change order and invoice associated with the new structure. And...
Rising 9-1-1 call loads, recruitment struggles put Wisconsin fire and EMS agencies on shaky ground, new report says
A growing call load coupled with lagging recruitment could be a recipe for disaster for Wisconsin fire and emergency medical service agencies, according to a study conducted by the Wisconsin Policy Forum. "Unless they are appropriately...
Communications center promotions announced (AR)
Garland County recently announced the latest promotions within the Garland County Communications Center. "These promotions are the result of independent emergency communications testing, as well as a series of independent and internal interviews, conducted earlier in...
City working to cut 9-1-1 response times (TX)
Midlothian’s 9-1-1 operators recently began using medical dispatch protocols designed to provide immediate response to callers’ needs and at the same time dispatch emergency personnel without delay. While previous procedures limited dispatchers to obtaining the...
Police department in need of dispatchers as calls flood in (MO)
The St. Joseph Police Department needs communications operators, and officials are looking for applicants. Capt. John Olszowka recently took over the command center at the police department. They field calls for the police, fire, EMS and sheriff's departments....
Minnesota call center supervisor named director of Delaware County 911 communications (IN)
MUNCIE, Ind. — A new 911 director has been hired for Delaware County. Bernard "Fred" Cummings will oversee the Delaware County Emergency Communications Center when he arrives in Muncie to take the position in mid-January. He has been serving as a PSAP (public safety...
Perquimans providing temporary 911 service in Gates (NC)
GATESVILLE — Because of staffing shortages at the Gates County 911 center, Perquimans County’s 911 center is also temporarily providing dispatching services in the neighboring county. Gates County Manager Tim Wilson said the Gates County 911 Communications Center...
Upcoming Webinar
4.9 GHz Band: Review of the FCC Order
On October 22, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) released its Eighth Report and Order (Eighth R&O) regarding utilization of the 4940-4990 MHz (4.9 GHz) band that protects incumbent users as requested by us, the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA). This Eighth R&O addresses a number of issues related to the use of this band by public safety. Please join us for a briefing on this order and how it impacts public safety.
This presentation will be led by Chief Jeff Johnson (ret) and Attorney Jason Karp, one of the nation’s leading experts in public safety spectrum regulations.
REGISTER
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