Work continues on the construction of Shenandoah County’s new public safety radio system as county staff eagerly await its completion. Gary Yew, the county’s former fire chief and the radio system project manager, said during a phone interview last week that five of...

Rendering via Settembrino Architects of Atlantic Highlands RIVER VALE—The average township homeowner likely will see an approximate $185 annual property tax increase over 30 years due to the $13.3 million bonding necessary for a proposed one-story, 18,000-square-foot...

Most community members know to call 911 in case of an emergency. But who picks up the phone on the other end? That’s the work of our incredible dispatch team at the Longmont Emergency Communications Center (LECC). This week we were lucky enough to sit down with...

ST. LOUIS– St. Louis officials are in the process of merging the city’s police, fire, and EMS emergency operations into one call center. It is part of a plan that officials hope will reduce hold time for 911 calls and address a dispatcher shortage. The city says its...

The Prince William County Department of Public Safety Communications Training Division received a prestigious re-certification for their curriculum. Since 2014 the Prince William County Department of Public Safety Communications has met the training standards for the...

The county’s 911 emergency dispatchers take hundreds of calls a year. Chances are that sooner or later one of those emergencies may involve you or a loved one. So, do you know when you should call 911?  What can you do before an emergency medical services (EMS) team...

The city of Flagstaff has approved a $2.5 million plan to dispatch mental health professionals instead of police officers to certain calls. It’s a three-year program that will fund behavioral health specialists and paramedics to respond to specific kinds of calls...

After experiencing serious staff shortages and issues with employee retention, an across-the-board pay increase seems to have helped the York County 911 call center stabilize its payroll. In February, Matthew Hobson, director of York County 911, said many 911 centers...

Southborough is considering forming a regionalized emergency services dispatch program with Hudson, Marlborough, Westborough, Grafton and Hopkinton. (Photo/Dakota Antelman) SOUTHBOROUGH – Southborough took the next step in exploring the possibility of regionalizing...

Pay increases are coming to officers and telecommunicators with the Fayetteville Police Department early next year after council members were satisfied with a presentation at their work session that showed wages in the city are below those at neighboring law...

CENTERVILLE — The Centerville Police Department announced on Thursday that its dispatch center can now accept text messages through its 911 system. Centerville Police Chief Matt Brown said, “Voice 911 calls are still preferred, but texting offers another option for...

Pittsylvania County is experiencing an uptick in 911 calls that aren't true emergencies, compounding an already stressed health care system reeling from the coronavirus pandemic and exodus of medical professionals. Pittsylvania County Public Safety is asking residents...

CENTERVILLE, Ohio (WDTN) – Your mobile device just got a little more useful. Centerville Police said Thursday the dispatch center for the Centerville Police Department can now accept text messages through its 911 system. Anyone within the City limits of Centerville...

The Santa Barbara City Council approved City Fire Chief Chris Mailes’s proposal to join a regional fire communications facility during its weekly meeting Tuesday. The six council members in attendance justified the dispatch center’s $800,000 annual price tag by...

Blue Mountain Fire Chief Kory Bell recalls a time firefighters had to chase down an ambulance after it passed the emergency scene they were at. They were in a dead zone and the radios police, ambulance and firefighters use, simply wouldn’t work. Unfortunately, until...

Smart phone users accidentally dialing someone by mistake is an established part of life in our hyper-connected culture. Sometimes, though, those butt-dials end up summoning the police or the county dispatch services. And whenever a iPhone, Android or even Apple Watch...

A state funded study will look at the potential for a regional public safety dispatch center. Southborough is among the five towns that will be included. The Edward J. Collins, Jr. Center for Public Management* will study dispatch services and needs for our area. The...

Naperville residents can now text 911 in an emergency, the city’s Public Safety Answering Point announced last month. “While we want to emphasize that calling 911 is still the fastest, most reliable way to contact us, we know that offering texting as an option is...

Later this month, St. Louis officials will begin the process of combining the city’s police, fire and EMS emergency operations into one call center. The plan seeks to address a shortage of dispatchers in the city and long hold times for people calling 911. St. Louis...