Comm Center News
Man arrested for abuse of 911 after allegedly calling dispatch 25 times (TX)
A man landed in jail in November for allegedly calling 9-1-1 at least 25 times. According to court documents: In April, police responded to a reported family disturbance. A dispatcher told the officers a man and woman could be heard yelling over the phone. The officers arrived at the address and announced their presence. A man said “hang on” and answered the door holding his jeans up around his waist. He told police there was no disturbance and he was just spending time with his wife. Officers saw an unclothed woman on the couch. She told the officers she was fine. More:Crime of the Week: Reward offered for info on arson casesIn May, officers were sent back to the same address for a disturbance where a man and woman could be heard arguing while on a 9-1-1 call. Both denied calling 9-1-1 and said someone else had their phone. The officers saw the woman holding a phone and asked her to call 9-1-1. When she called, it was the same number associated with the previous calls. The officers warned the couple about abuse of 9-1-1 calls. The woman said it was an accident. During their investigation, police discovered 25 calls were made to 9-1-1 from the number. In some of the calls, dispatchers could hear a man and woman yelling. Sometimes the person would hang up after the dispatcher answered the phone. In late November, police arrested the man and charged him with Silent or Abusive Calls to 9-1-1 Service. His bond was set at $1,000 by a judge. More:Vernon ex-pastor sentenced for raping 15-year-oldWichita Falls Police Spokesman Sgt. Charlie Eipper said if you accidently call 9-1-1, do not hang up. Simply explain it was an accident, and do not be surprised if the police show up. Emergency services will call the number back or go to the location to make sure someone is not in need of help.Some other tips to avoid accidentally calling 9-1-1, from E-Com 911:Store your cell phone carefully and lock it when not in use.Keep your phone in a case or holster when not in use.Utilize a phone’s key lock feature if available to avoid accidental calls.Do not program 9-1-1 into a phone, the speed dial can cause accidental calls.If you accidentally dialed 9-1-1 in the past, delete the number from your call history to avoid accidentally calling the number again.
Standing in Support of New Mexico’s Hometown Heroes
By Thomas Randall, Senior Public Safety Advisor for New Mexico, First Responder Network Authority Every day first responders step out into the frontlines to protect and serve their communities. In the last decade, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and EMS...
Police Department to double dispatching staff, handle Statesboro Fire Dept. traffic (GA)
With authorization from City Council, the Statesboro Fire Department and Statesboro Police Department are moving forward with a plan to merge the dispatching of fire calls – after the initial callout by 911 – into the existing SPD dispatching center at police...
When Seconds Matter: Ohio County 911 Dispatchers Trained in ‘Tele-CPR’ (WV)
Theresa Russell – Theresa Russell, director of Ohio County 911, has been on the job since 1989, just three years after the center was established. In that time, it’s gone from a phone-and-paper-pad operation to desktops with multiple computer screens and flip cards...
FirstNet to give Army first responders a boost in wireless communications (AL)
REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. — The Army marked the start of a partnership that will provide a dedicated communication network to first responders, every day and in every emergency. Lt. Gen. Donnie Walker, deputy commanding general of Army Materiel Command and senior...
Emergency tracking centre to help first responders and telco carriers stay connected (Australia)
NSW has opened a new Telecommunications Operations Centre in Sydney that will receive real-time information about critical infrastructure during emergencies such as floods and bushfires. The facility will equip the state’s Telecommunications Emergency Management Unit...
Beardstown approves county dispatcher contract (TX)
BEARDSTOWN — Council approves dispatcher agreement Tuesday night. City Council met Tuesday to discuss an agreement with Cass County Emergency Telephone System for the city's dispatcher contract. The council approved the contract for $88,000 and $3.80 for the 2022...
City Council to consider update to video surveillance system at Public Safety Building (MI)
COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Coldwater City Council will be asked by Public Safety Director Joe Scheid on Monday night to approve his request to update the current video surveillance system at the Coldwater Public Safety Building. Scheid says there are four surveillance...
EMS not considered ‘essential’ in SC, but proposed bill would change that
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The pandemic has shown how critical emergency medical services are across the country. But in South Carolina and most other states, EMS is not classified as an “essential service,” as law enforcement and fire services are. While those services...
Lifelong Xenian Jacquelyn Foster Retires After 30 Years as 911 Dispatcher (OH)
After serving her hometown for 30 years as a 911 Dispatcher, Jacquelyn Foster is retiring. Foster began her career as a 911 Dispatcher with Xenia Greene Central Communications in December 1991 and has since worked as the critical link between people in distress and...
Protecting 911 from unwanted robocalls
The Federal Communications Commission is looking for information on how to prevent unwanted robocalls from reaching public safety answering points (PSAPs). FCC first adopted a PSAP Do-Not-Call registry in 2012 to address autodialer-initiated calls, which were tying up...
As merger of St. Louis 911 systems stalls, staffing shortage, hold times continue, officials say (MO)
ST. LOUIS — St. Louis officials have run into delays implementing a plan to combine the city's three separate 911 dispatch centers for police, firefighters and EMS, and in the meantime hold times in answering city 911 calls and serious short-staffing persist,...
Lincoln’s 911 dispatch system getting an upgrade (NE)
LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - First responders in Lincoln are now using a new 911 computer dispatch system. We were able to get a firsthand look at the new software and how it’s helping everyone in the Capital City. Since 1994, 911 dispatchers have used a computer dispatch...
Fix coming for Android bug that broke 9-1-1 calls with Microsoft Teams installed
Google is aware of a strange issue with Android and Microsoft Teams that can prevent emergency service calls, such as dialling 9-1-1. The company posted a detailed response following an investigation into a report about a Pixel device preventing someone from calling...
County seeking two new 911 dispatchers (ME)
Last summer, the labor shortage was so profound, Lincoln County Communications and Sheriff’s Department resorted to advertising vacancies via lawn sign. The communications center is once again seeking two emergency 911 dispatchers, but this time there seems to be a...
Former Beloit police officer saves life just days on job as 911 dispatcher (WI)
JANESVILLE—Janesville native Kayla Glass spent the better part of a decade protecting the people of Rock County as a patrol officer in the Beloit Police Department. She knows what it takes to help save lives, and six days on the job as a 911 telecommunicator, she was...
Bull City mayor turns to Durham Tech to help fill 911 center call-takers gap (NC)
Durham’s new mayor will begin working with a local community college to help fill ongoing staff shortages in the city and county’s 911 center. Speaking at her first news conference as mayor Wednesday, Elaine O’Neal said she will meet with City Manager Wanda Page,...
Unexpected funding source a boost to LawCo 911 board (MO)
The Lawrence County Emergency Services Board recently learned from Director Bonnie Witt-Schulte of an unaccounted source of income. “The use tax monies, collected for online purchases from out of state, are earmarked for 911,” she said. “Lawrence County has been...
Cape Coral Police Department Awarded the Gold Standard in Public Safety (FL)
(December 8, 2021) - The Cape Coral Police Department has been awarded CALEA Accreditation in Law Enforcement and in Communications effective November 19, 2021. These awards remain in effect for four years and the agency retains all privileges associated with this...
PPD now part of 911 central dispatch (PA)
By STEVE SWOGETINSKY The Philadelphia Police Department switched to the MSWIN radio system last week and is now receiving its dispatch from Neshoba County’s 911 Communications. “At 9 a.m., Dec. 1, we switched over,” said Eric Lyons, police chief. “The transition was...
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
Subscribe to Comm Center News
Get the latest News, Articles, and Insights from AllThingsECC.com weekly in our newsletter.
Stay Up to Date With The Latest News & Updates
Share Your Story
Join our community to share your experience and connect and collaborate with colleagues.
Join Our Newsletter
Get the latest News, Articles, and Insights from AllThingsECC.com weekly in our newsletter.
Follow Us
Stay connected with the latestEmergency Communications News, Articles & Information.