GLASGOW, Ky. (WBKO) – The lifeline for many residents across Barren and Metcalfe counties is observing 30 years of service to the region.Established in March 1994, the Barren-Metcalfe Emergency Communications Center emerged after years of fragmented emergency communications. Beverly Harbison, 911 director, remembered how much slower those days were, especially on calls needing all three emergency services.“Back in the day, you had a dispatch at EMS, you had one at the fire department on Cross Street, and then we had the police department on Broadway,” Harbison said.Former Barren County Coroner Mike Swift played a pivotal role in establishing the current emergency communications center, consolidating fire, police, and ambulance dispatch services under one roof on Glasgow’s East Washington Street, Harbison said.She remembered Swift’s enthusiasm and determination to make the consolidated center a reality.“I think Mike just worked well with the community and the leaders of the community to get it done,” she said. “He did get it done, and he was proud that he got it done.”Harbison’s journey into dispatching began unexpectedly, spurred by a friend’s father’s encouragement while working at a local convenience store. Following two weeks of training and certification, she started her career as a Glasgow police dispatcher in the 1980s.Today, the dispatch center relies on cutting-edge technology to fulfill the critical duties of the 911 service. However, in earlier times, dispatchers operated with little more than telephones and radios, Harbison said.Technological advancements have revolutionized the emergency communications profession, facilitating tasks such as record archiving and precise location tracking for 911 calls. In Glasgow, the dispatch center has boosted the capabilities of their first responders in addressing emergencies more efficiently.“Saving time saves lives,” Harbison said.One notable advancement was the introduction of a 911 texting feature in 2019, particularly beneficial in situations where verbal communication is compromised, such as cases of domestic violence.The integration of video conferencing capabilities has also enabled dispatchers to visually assess emergency scenes in real-time, said April Dunbar, who has been a dispatcher and first responder since October 2000 and now serves as the assistant director of the Glasgow-based 911 service.“That’s also helpful in domestic situations as well,” Dunbar said. “If they can’t talk and they need us to see what’s going on.”Reflecting on the evolution of emergency response throughout her career, Dunbar described the transformative impact of cellular technology and advanced location services, citing them as critical components in the modern dispatcher’s toolkit.Of the incoming calls, 78 percent originate from cell phones, with the remainder comprising mostly landlines and text messages, she said.In an era dominated by social media and location-sharing apps like Life360, dispatchers often receive information about emergencies from multiple sources, sometimes after incidents have already been reported elsewhere.“There’s been videos out there before we’re ever notified of what’s going on,” Dunbar said.Moreover, the dispatch center holds certification to provide Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) to callers, a development that allows dispatchers to walk people through critical care like CPR and bleeding control.“We’ve had some great success with that,” Harbison said.It’s widely acknowledged that first responders bear some of the most demanding roles, frequently encountering people during their most harrowing moments. Consequently, the road to becoming a dispatcher is far from easy.Applicants are required to pass a thorough screening process including items like a background check, drug screening, polygraph examination, psychological testing and suitability assessment.They also attend four weeks of training in Richmond at the Kentucky Public Safety Dispatch Academy.“Although it’s a very rewarding job at times, it can be a very stressful job,” Harbison said. “Sometimes just taking that bad call can make someone look for another career.”Harbison and Dunbar said retaining dispatchers has been one of the industry’s largest hurdles in recent years. Local government routinely discusses ways to better pay first responders, but significant changes have yet to be made.Glasgow offers an hourly wage ranging from $16-$16.50 per hour, according to the city’s website.Funding for the vital service is partially sourced from a 911 fee incorporated into phone bills across Barren and Metcalfe counties. As landline customers have declined over the years, so has revenue generated from associated fees.“Hopefully things will change over the years and people will understand,” Harbison said. “Because with us being behind the scenes, people don’t realize what we do. And until you actually physically come in here and set with us, that’s when you think, ‘Wow. They do a lot.’”As Harbison aptly summarized, dispatchers are the “unseen first responders,” diligently working behind the scenes to ensure prompt and effective assistance during emergencies.“We are a small family here,” Harbison said. “Our main goal is at the end of the day for all of our responders to go home safely.”Dunbar echoed the sentiment, saying once dispatching gets in your blood, it becomes a lifelong commitment.“I think you have a really strong sense of community,” Dunbar said. “You want to be a servant of the community and to help others.”The dispatch center is presently seeking candidates, and those interested can arrange to shadow dispatchers by reaching out to the center directly. Copyright 2024 WBKO. All rights reserved.

Tech

Emergency dispatchers are using AI and cloud-based tools to help those in need faster

Leila Jordan

2024-03-11T14:15:23Z

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Emergency-response centers are using AI to improve and streamline services like live translation.Better tech could help workers prioritize calls, avoid logistical issues, and catch crucial details.This article is part of “Build IT,” a series about digital tech and innovation trends that are disrupting industries.Raquel Lewandowski has been working as a call taker at a call center in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, for nearly 30 years.In that time, she’s seen technology modernize emergency-response services to better serve people who need assistance. She recalled one instance where she used an app to direct a woman who was lost at the 1,000-acre John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum.”Lights are going out, and she doesn’t have that much left on her phone, and she’s scared, and she doesn’t know how to get out of here,” Lewandowski said. “I was like, ‘Hey, you know what? I can send you a link. Open it up.'”With the click of a link, Lewandowski could see where the woman was through the camera on her phone. “I can see the Philadelphia skyline — I can see that in the background, so I can kind of tell her which direction to start walking,” she said.Lewandowski was using Prepared Assist, a platform launched by the emergency-response technology company Prepared. The software uses location data along with text and video capabilities to help with 911 calls.It also uses artificial-intelligence tools to provide real-time translations and speech processing to dispatchers in high-stress situations.Michael Chime, Prepared’s CEO, said he launched the company in 2018 in response to several high-profile mass shootings that prompted a new interest in 911 technology. He questioned why smartphones had better features to help in emergencies — like location tracking and video calling — than many call centers did. “Why was I, an everyday citizen, better equipped from a data perspective to communicate to my friend in any odd moment than I would be to 911?” he said.That was 18 years after the US and Canada started planning the Next Generation 911 initiative, meant to ensure that technology in public-safety answering points, also known as PSAPS or call centers, remained updated.While many people in the industry have acknowledged a need for better emergency tech, its implementation has varied across states. “There’s a lot of work that’s needed to move our nation to the 21st century,” said Brian Fontes, the CEO of the National Emergency Number Association.One of the most widespread innovations so far is text-to-911. Now artificial intelligence is introducing more possibilities in 911 operations.The AI tools solving a big emergency-response problemAlex Dizengof, the cofounder and chief technology officer of the emergency-communication platform Carbyne, said a big challenge in 911 operations is language.Operators taking a call from someone speaking a different language typically have to figure out on their own which language it is and then reach out to a third-party live-translation service.”You’re losing people because they don’t understand what’s going on,” Lewandowski said.Prepared and Carbyne are both tackling this problem. Prepared’s live-translation feature is designed to identify a caller’s language and translate for the call taker. The feature can be added to existing call-taking infrastructure or location-service software like RapidSOS.Carbyne’s system uses AI and natural-language processing engines to automatically translate a call. The company says the software can shorten a call by nearly five minutes.Alleviating stress in understaffed call centersAI-powered systems could help reduce call takers’ workload. In a 2023 survey from Carbyne and the National Emergency Number Association, 82% of respondents said their call centers were understaffed. Additionally, 74% of those surveyed suggested that they or their coworkers felt burned out.Prepared’s transcription service is designed to assign keywords to trigger certain dispatches or alert management, helping call takers catch details they might miss over the phone.Anthony Mignogna, the chief of communications for Delaware County Emergency Services, recalled using the transcription service while taking a call from someone in danger. “There was a customer dispute at a gas station service shop, and he whispered, ‘The guy pointed a gun in my head,'” Mignogna told BI. It was hard to hear the caller’s warning because of the background noise, Mignogna added, but “through the transcription, we caught that.”Carbyne also recently rolled out an AI-powered triage system designed to help centers prioritize calls during high-volume periods or nonemergency situations. Heather Hilliard, the deputy executive director of the Orleans Parish Communication District in Louisiana, said that over six weeks, they used Carbyne’s triage system 48 times on about 200 calls.Barriers to modernizing emergency techThere are some concerns about using AI in the 911 workflow. Emergencies need to be handled with great care, as they’re often highly sensitive and complex. AI is still a fledgling technology susceptible to making mistakes and reproducing bias from the data it’s trained on.”Bias is definitely a concern that we’re always thinking about, and also the accuracy of the data,” Dizengof said. Carbyne says it checks a selection of translations with a person to verify its system’s accuracy. The company says it’s also developing a language-processing engine trained on 911 calls to provide results that are more precise.Modernizing emergency tech would also require updated PSAP infrastructure, which isn’t cheap. PSAPs are run at the state and local levels, and individual municipalities often decide whether to migrate to a new system.The Emergency Communications Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, for example, recently started using Prepared Live, a cloud-based platform the city said would cost about $50,000 a year. The goal is to reduce the costs of faulty legacy technology and save money on hardware in the long run.”I can’t tell you how many times I had problems in my server room,” said Karima Holmes, a former 911 call taker who now serves as Carbyne’s vice president of public safety. “I had technology go down because there was moisture in the air.” She added that with cloud-based systems, that’s not an issue.The future of 911 technology also relies on systems innovating past verbal-only communication. AI-powered transcription services, location-data gathering, and expanded video capabilities could help give responders a better picture of a situation before help arrives.But Fontes said progress can be incremental when many centers lack the resources and budget to upgrade their systems. He called on the federal government to step in to help centers access new services. “Congress has to fund this now to enable all the benefits of technology that the private sector has out there,” he said.
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By Alex VargasLincoln Journal Star, Neb.LINCOLN, Neb. — Lincoln Mayor Leiron Gaylor Baird on Thursday announced a new partnership between the Lincoln Emergency Communications Center and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.Lincoln becomes the first city in Nebraska to partner 911 services with 988’s mental health services, which Gaylor Baird said will boost the number of mental health calls serviced.“The 911/988 partnership enables our 911 emergency dispatchers to connect people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress to the 988 lifeline, to trained mental health professionals and resources,” she said.Calls received by 911 dispatchers that are deemed mental health crises will be transferred to trained professionals with 988.

Nebraska’s 988 number had a soft launch in July 2022 and since then, the call center located in Boys Town has received more than 42,000 calls, chats and texts from people experiencing crises caused by mental and behavioral issues, substance use or suicidal thoughts, said program manager Kyle Kinney.The organization’s goal is to provide the correct services at the right time, allowing police and other emergency services to respond to other calls.“Since implementation, 97% of calls to 988 Nebraska were able to successfully de-escalate the situation,” Kinney said.When someone communicates with 988, they speak with counselors who help people find resources and follow up to ensure their needs are being met.Lincoln Emergency Communication Center manager Jessica Loos said the center is eager to begin working with 988 to help identify calls that may be better handled through the new partnership.

In the last six months, the communication center has answered just under 6,000 calls from people experiencing a mental health crisis.“Each of those times, we were limited to sending a law enforcement officer when officers were available to respond,” Loos said. “Most of these calls were ones in which the expertise of a crisis counselor would be more effective in addressing the callers’ needs.”Research shows that when officers make contact during a mental health crisis, the chances of a situation escalating increase, as does the likelihood of someone ending up in jail.Certain circumstances may still result in officers being called to a scene of a mental health crisis. For example, if someone is threatening to not only harm themselves but also others, police will be called.The number of calls to 988 is expected to increase, with 911 calls in Lincoln being connected quickly to the service line. According to Kinney, the average wait time is under 10 seconds.

If the call volume becomes too great for the current staff at 988, the organization will look to hire to fill the necessary gaps.The Department of Health and Human Services funds 988 Nebraska and will work with the organization to maintain a satisfactory service level if additional funding for staffing becomes necessary.Staffing has steadily increased since the beginning of the program, Kinney said.Gaylor Baird touted Lincoln’s continued dedication to increase public safety.“We are so pleased to be piloting this program here in Lincoln as we work to become the safest and healthiest capital city in the country,” Gaylor Baird said.

Reach the writer at 402-473-7254 or avargas@journalstar.com.On Twitter @Alex_Vargas1994___(c)2024 Lincoln Journal Star, Neb.Visit Lincoln Journal Star, Neb. at www.journalstar.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Construction of a new radio tower in Isabella County that will improve first responder communications is expected to begin in the coming weeks.Isabella County commissioners last week paid a third milestone of $439,746 to Motorola for the project, which is being funded by the state.
Isabella County Sheriff Michael Main said construction on the tower, which will be located at Isabella County Central Dispatch at Isabella Road and Preston Street, is expected to begin within the next 45 days.
Main said the appropriation of $4.8 million by the state for a new radio tower came after first responders in Isabella County had difficulty communicating in big-box stores, buildings on the campus of Central Michigan University, heavy construction-style buildings, schools and Saginaw Chippewa Tribal entities.
State Sen. Roger Hauck, R-Mt. Pleasant, helped appropriate the money during his second term as a state representative, Main said.
Hauck was instrumental in getting the funds to the county for better communications for police, fire, ambulance, emergency management, public works and major medical facilities in the county, Main said.
The $4.8 million was appropriated to the county to build a 195-foot monopole structure at central dispatch.
That location ties into the county’s existing communications tower, which is owned by the state, and when complete will create a loop between the existing tower, the new tower and a tower located in Midland County that’s near Shepherd, Main said.
The project might require the purchase of smaller antennae on some buildings to ensure a signal is being received, according to Main.
“It is anticipated that this loop and new tower will create an appropriate level of communication in the structures throughout Mt. Pleasant, Union Township, the CMU campus and the Tribal business and government buildings,” Main said. “We are also looking at making sure we have appropriate coverage within the Shepherd and Beal City schools with this project.
“This could require some additional smaller antennae on their buildings to assure the signal is being received through the buildings.”
Main anticipates additional funding to refresh all of the law enforcement mobile and portable radios throughout the county.
“Currently, the majority of radios being used by law enforcement are at the end of life and are not being supported for service any longer,” Main said. “The refresh will assure that law enforcement has the ability to communicate with no delays or connectivity failures.
“All of the existing radios will be provided to fire and other public safety partners to provide them additional communication improvements.”
Currently, work has been completed on the design and purchase of the necessary items for the project, which is expected to be completed during the last quarter of this year, Main said, adding that the new tower will provide better, safer and more effective services for everyone who lives, works or travels in Isabella County.

Funding will support 34 nonprofit and government agencies across the company’s Indiana service territory
PLAINFIELD, Ind., March 7, 2024 /3BL/ – First responders across Indiana, including local police, fire and emergency management agencies (EMAs), will benefit from more than $200,000 in grants from the Duke Energy Foundation. The funding will help public safety agencies increase their response capabilities during severe weather and other emergencies through advanced preparation, planning, equipment and training.
“When severe weather strikes, we rely on strong partnerships with local emergency management and law enforcement agencies to effectively respond and restore power in affected communities,” said Stan Pinegar, president of Duke Energy Indiana. “These grants will help give first responders the tools and training they need to respond to any emergency.”
During major emergencies and natural disasters, local emergency management agencies play a critical role in providing information, resources and support that Duke Energy relies on to speed power restoration for its customers.
“Successful preparedness, response and recovery requires a community approach,” said Sean Stoops, chief of the Avon Police Department. “We envisioned equipping all of our patrol vehicles with automated external defibrillators (AEDs). With the support of Duke Energy and other community partners, we were able to bring that goal to fruition, purchasing 35 AEDs that our officers can use to deliver life-saving measures to a person in cardiac arrest.”
Grants were awarded to the following organizations:
Bartholomew County EMA
$8,000 to purchase new water rescue equipment, including a new motor for an airboat
Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office
$5,000 to support public safety measures and preparations ahead of the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024
Brown County EMA
$5,500 to help equip a Brown County EMA emergency operations center with computers, monitors, software and other electrical components
Cass County EMA
$4,000 to sponsor a hazardous materials technician certification course
City of Brazil Fire Department
$7,500 to support the department’s efforts to promote its “Free Smoke Detector Program”
City of Clinton Fire Department
$7,000 to support the department’s water rescue unit with the purchase of a sonar unit, anchors, throw bags and medical items
City of Delphi Police Department
$6,500 to support the purchase of a vehicle that can access trails and other confined areas in emergencies
City of Greencastle Fire Department
$7,500 to support emergency preparedness and training
Clark County EMA
$2,750 to purchase a rescue boat that can be used during water rescue emergencies
Crawford County EMA
$2,750 to provide weather radios to local residents
Fayette County EMA
$10,000 to purchase portable, two-way radios and firefighter breathing apparatus
Floyd County EMA
$2,750 to provide weather radios to local residents
Fountain County EMA
$2,205 to purchase safety cones that can be used to block restricted areas
Franklin County EMA
$10,000 to fund new equipment and training, including an unmanned aerial vehicle with thermal and infrared technology, water rescue equipment, and mass sheltering items such as cots and personal care kits
Fulton County EMA
$5,000 to conduct a hazardous materials tabletop exercise
Gibson County EMA
$11,000 to provide education and training for first responders
Hamilton County EMA
$10,000 to enhance community outreach and preparedness education
Harrison County EMA
$2,750 to purchase an unmanned aerial vehicle that can be deployed in planning and response operations
Huntington County EMA
$5,000 to purchase various supplies and equipment, including uniforms
Jefferson County EMA
$2,799 to purchase an unmanned aerial vehicle
Jennings County EMA
$5,000 to equip the department’s disaster response vehicle with a thermal imaging camera and provide weather alert radios to local residents
Knox County EMA
$11,000 to purchase cots and amenities for displaced residents during emergencies
Lawrence County EMA
$5,500 to purchase a generator that can provide back-up power to a Lawrence County EMA facility in an emergency
Monroe County EMA
$5,500 to provide weather radios to local residents
Montgomery County Emergency Response Team
$6,785 to support the purchase of a small, enclosed trailer equipped with thermal blankets, cooling towels, an electric kettle, instant hot packs, an electric heater and other supplies that support firefighter rehabilitation
Orange County EMA
$5,500 to provide weather radios to local residents
Scott County EMA
$2,750 to purchase an unmanned aerial vehicle
Switzerland County EMA
$9,000 to purchase firefighter equipment
Tippecanoe County Surveyor’s Office
$6,510 to purchase rescue helmets
Town of Avon Police Department
$22,000 to equip patrol vehicles with AEDs
Town of Cambridge City Fire Department
$3,500 to purchase new firefighter boots
Town of Converse Volunteer Fire Company
$10,000 to purchase a thermal imaging camera
Town of Dunreith Fire Department
$4,000 to purchase new firefighter boots
Washington County EMA
$2,750 to provide weather radios to local residents
Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation contributes more than $2 million annually in charitable gifts to Indiana and is funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information about the Foundation and its Powerful Communities program can be found at duke-energy.com/Foundation.
Duke Energy Indiana
Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 890,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana’s largest electric supplier.
Contact: McKenzie Barbknecht24-Hour: 800.559.3853
View original content here.

The City of Ripon is looking to replace the outdated technology necessary to provide dispatch services from the Ripon Police Department.On Tuesday, the Ripon City Council will look to approve and authorize the purchase of radio tower equipment for the Channel 1 update. This item and more will be part of the agenda for the 6 p.m. monthly session inside the Council Chambers, 259 N. Wilma Ave.
The Ripon Communications Center, along with Ripon police, handles dispatch services for both the Escalon Police Department and the Lathrop Police Department. While Ripon and Escalon shared Channel 1 for radio communications – the outdated T-1 point-to-point link – Lathrop was monitored on a separate channel. “Based on this set up, the Ripon Communications Center was monitoring two radio channels,” the staff report. To further complicate matters, the T-1 connection between Ripon and Escalon was permanently disconnected by the provider, TPx Communications, which was moving away from the outdated technologies. Ripon police, unaware of that until two weeks prior to the disconnection, still needed to provide 911 emergency services, with no possibility of an extension from TPx Communications. La Rue Communications stepped in to provide an additional channel in the Ripon Communication Center – Ripon, Escalon, and Lathrop communications were now on separate channels. In September, La Rue Communications installed a converting analog to digital device, with hopes that Ripon and Escalon could go back to sharing Channel 1.
That device, local police noted, proved to be unreliable, randomly shutting down at various times while causing public safety issue due to not being able to communicate with Escalon. La Rue Communications recommended the replacement / upgrade of equipment for the Ripon Communications Center’s radio Channel 1, with the cost not to exceed $119,304 – paid via the General Department Capital Fund. The Escalon Police Department, in addition, will reimburse the City of Ripon for 50 percent of the cost ($7,531) for the Zetron hardware and software coupled with the cost of labor for the installation.

Door County Emergency Services photo.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) announced this week that the County of Door would receive $3.9 million for the upgrade of its public safety radio system that assures all peninsula residents and visitors can contact emergency personnel when they need them. 

The county is in the beginning stages of a full-system upgrade to its communication infrastructure that consists of 12 towers (four county-owned and eight co-located). The new upgrade will add eight towers (two co-locations and six new builds) to get appropriate coverage percentages per municipality, according to a Feb. 7 memo from Ashley DeGrave, Door County technology services project manager. 

The project will be broken into three phases: land acquisition/site testing; civil/shelter/site work and tower construction; and FCC licensing acquisition and tower/radio equipment purchasing and implementation.

The total project cost for all three phases is estimated at $25,609,680.08. The county’s last full-system update was in 2013. 

“Wisconsinites deserve to be safe in their communities, and I am proud to have secured nearly $4 million to help Door County update its public safety radio system – making it easier for public safety leaders to communicate, respond to emergencies, and protect our neighbors,” Baldwin said in a statement. 

In total, Baldwin secured $211 million for projects in Wisconsin in the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2024 government funding package, seven of those, including Door County’s, in Northeast Wisconsin.

MONROE COUNTY, N.Y. — 911 calls in Monroe County were impacted for a little over half an hour Saturday morning due to the failure of a backup system during construction at the Route 390/Scottsville Road interchange.Normal 911 functions had been restored as of 3 p.m., the county reported Saturday afternoon.The county reported that at about 7:05 a.m., a Frontier Network redundant system failed to engage during a planned fiber cable disconnect for the construction. The Frontier re-route switch for the 911 calls should have activated once the disconnect happened, but it did not — and callers may have received a fast-busy signal from 7:05 to 7:40 a.m.At 7:40 a.m., all 911 calls in Monroe County, including the city of Rochester, were re-routed to the 911 center in Livingston County and are now being handled by Ontario County. they transfer those calls to the Rochester/Monroe County Emergency Communications Center for dispatch. According to the county, calls can take a few minutes to be routed through this extra step, so callers were encouraged to stay on the line. According to the county, dispatch systems to emergency services were not impacted.Crews from the county’s Department of Environmental Services worked with Frontier Communications to re-route the fiber circuit to re-establish the connection to the 911 Center. They also were both working with the county’s Information Services department to reestablish the backup network path.
For Related Stories: 911 technology  Frontier  Environmental Services  Monroe County

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — When there’s an emergency in Durham, the city’s 911 center is typically the first to know, but if something were to happen to the communications center located on Main Street, officials need an official backup.”We want to make sure that when that caller is dialing 911 and they need resources, that there’s someone there,” Durham Emergency Communications Center Director Randy Beeman said.The City of Durham is required to have an official alternate routing partner for 911 calls, according to the NC 911 Board.Beeman said the center has had an informal emergency backup relationship with the Raleigh-Wake Emergency Communications Center, but the City of Fayetteville is the best match for a formal partnership.”The City of Fayetteville is naturally similar in size as we are,” he said. “Also from a radio operational standpoint, we have a great opportunity here with working with similar radio systems … we also have the same (CAD software). So, therefore, managing calls, taking the calls, processing the calls are very similar.”There is no financial cost or impact to executing an interlocal agreement, according to Beeman.He clarified to the City Council on Thursday that the need for a backup wasn’t because of a staffing issue.”It is for when our center is incapacitated,” Beeman said, meaning they cannot receive calls nor can they dispatch. “Those are those rare circumstances. Staffing wise, we continue to move forward in our staffing.”The City Council decided to revisit the item at the next council meeting.Copyright © 2024 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Pictured (from left) are Police Chief David Onley and Fire Chief Glenn Kurfees.
Special to Iredell Free News
The City of Statesville is accepting applications for the 2024 Public Safety Academy.
This is the first time the Statesville Police Department and Statesville Fire Department have joined forces to offer this comprehensive program, which builds upon the success of the previous Police Academy.
The academy is set to begin on April 11 and run through June 9, concluding with a graduation ceremony. Sessions will be held every Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at different locations with SPD and SFD staff taking turns leading each class.
Designed to deepen community understanding of public safety services provided by the City of Statesville, the academy also offers participants the opportunity to provide valuable feedback, contributing to ongoing efforts to enhance service delivery to the community.
The inaugural academy is limited to 25 participants. Organizers encourage those who interested in participating to turn their applications in early.
Police-related topics include administration, patrol, recruiting and training, communications, crime analysis/mapping, community services, School Resource Officers, traffic, criminal investigations, evidence, violent crimes, Special Response Team (SRT), K-9, Crime Reduction Team, drone and camera technology.
Fire-related topics include administration, operations and training, code enforcement, fire investigations, fire education and life safety, CPR/AED hands-on training and information, live fire and extinguisher training, hazmat operations, drone operations, fire rescue (ropes, extrication, confined space), ladder operations, airport rescue firefighting, other specialized fire response demonstrations.
Applicants must meet specific criteria to be eligible for the academy, including being 18 years of age prior to the first meeting, agreeing to sign a waiver, residing in Iredell County (with preference given to residents of Statesville), and undergoing a criminal history background check.
This inaugural program promises to provide invaluable insights into the vital work of the SPD and SFD, while also opening doors for participants to explore potential career paths.
Applications can be obtained from the City of Statesville website – www.statesvillenc.net — or by contacting the Police Department (704-878-3442) or Fire Department (704-832-3878). Applications must be received by April 5 for consideration.

Alex Vargas

Lincoln Mayor Leiron Gaylor Baird on Thursday announced a new partnership between the Lincoln Emergency Communications Center and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.Lincoln becomes the first city in Nebraska to partner 911 services with 988’s mental health services, which Gaylor Baird said will boost the number of mental health calls serviced.”The 911/988 partnership enables our 911 emergency dispatchers to connect people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress to the 988 lifeline, to trained mental health professionals and resources,” she said.Calls received by 911 dispatchers that are deemed mental health crises will be transferred to trained professionals with 988.Nebraska’s 988 number had a soft launch in July 2022 and since then, the call center located in Boys Town has received more than 42,000 calls, chats and texts from people experiencing crises caused by mental and behavioral issues, substance use or suicidal thoughts, said program manager Kyle Kinney.

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The organization’s goal is to provide the correct services at the right time, allowing police and other emergency services to respond to other calls.”Since implementation, 97% of calls to 988 Nebraska were able to successfully de-escalate the situation,” Kinney said.When someone communicates with 988, they speak with counselors who help people find resources and follow up to ensure their needs are being met.Lincoln Emergency Communication Center manager Jessica Loos said the center is eager to begin working with 988 to help identify calls that may be better handled through the new partnership.In the last six months, the communication center has answered just under 6,000 calls from people experiencing a mental health crisis.”Each of those times, we were limited to sending a law enforcement officer when officers were available to respond,” Loos said. “Most of these calls were ones in which the expertise of a crisis counselor would be more effective in addressing the callers’ needs.”Research shows that when officers make contact during a mental health crisis, the chances of a situation escalating increase, as does the likelihood of someone ending up in jail.Certain circumstances may still result in officers being called to a scene of a mental health crisis. For example, if someone is threatening to not only harm themselves but also others, police will be called.The number of calls to 988 is expected to increase, with 911 calls in Lincoln being connected quickly to the service line. According to Kinney, the average wait time is under 10 seconds.If the call volume becomes too great for the current staff at 988, the organization will look to hire to fill the necessary gaps.The Department of Health and Human Services funds 988 Nebraska and will work with the organization to maintain a satisfactory service level if additional funding for staffing becomes necessary.Staffing has steadily increased since the beginning of the program, Kinney said.Gaylor Baird touted Lincoln’s continued dedication to increase public safety.”We are so pleased to be piloting this program here in Lincoln as we work to become the safest and healthiest capital city in the country,” Gaylor Baird said.
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Top Journal Star photos for March 2024

Northwest High School seniors Feryal Akpo-Idrissou (left) and Madeline Smith register to vote on Monday.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Nebraska’s C.J. Wilcher (0) waits for the team lineups to be announced before the game against Rutgers on Sunday, March 3, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KATY COWELL Journal Star

Overton celebrates after defeating Wynot in the Class D-2 state championship game Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Overton coach Janessa Bergman (left) reacts with the Eagles’ bench during the Class D-2 state championship game against Wynot on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Millard West’s Taylor Hansen (21) and Kylee Paben (42) guard Bellevue West’s Ahnica Russell Brown (0) as she attempts to score in the paint in the second half during the Class A girls state tournament championship game, Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Millard West players dogpile at center court after defeating Bellevue West to win the Class A girls state tournament championship game, Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Tyson McCall, 7, (right) is lifted up by his father Keenan as they cheer on Yutan in the Class C-2 girls state tournament championship game, Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Yutan’s Jade Lewis (4) celebrates during the Class C-2 girls state tournament championship game against Crofton, Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KATY COWELL Journal Star

Crofton’s Ellie Tramps drives the ball down court on a breakaway in the first half during the Class C-2 girls state tournament championship game, Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Lincoln Christian celebrates winning the Class C-1 state championship against Sidney on Saturday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KATY COWELL, Journal Star

Pender celebrates winning the Class D-1 girls state tournament championship game over Southern Valley, Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena. Pender won 39-25.

KATY COWELL Journal Star

Lincoln Southwest senior Trent Buda dresses up as Where’s Waldo during a Class A girls state tournament semifinal game against Bellevue West on Friday, March 1, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KATY COWELL Journal Star

Nebraska’s Caitlin Olensky pitches against Wichita State, Friday, March 1, 2024, at Bowlin Stadium.

JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Beatrice’s Anna Gleason hugs Kiley Hatcliff while Callie Schwisow and Kiera Busboom (from left) embrace as they console one another following a close loss to Elkhorn North in a Class B girls state tournament semifinal game Friday, March 1, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Yutan’s Emilia Tederman (bottom left) competes for the ball with Bishop Neumann’s Caitlin McGuigan (top left) and Adalin Bosak during a Class C-2 girls state tournament semifinal game, Friday, March 1, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center.

JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

Using an in camera double exposure Omaha Skutt players Peyton McCabe (10) and Kamryn Kasner (34) are framed by a cheerleaders pom pom as they block a shot by Gretna East’s Karli Williams (5) in the first half during a Class B girls state tournament semifinal game Friday, March 1, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Sidney’s Payton Schrotberger (3) leads the charge as she and her teammates Ryan Dillehay (21) and Karsyn Leeling (0) rush to celebrate with their team after their win over Grand Island Central Catholic in a Class C-1 girls state tournament semifinal game Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

The Sidney bench and head coach Tyler Shaw (center) celebrate after Ryan Dillehay (not pictured) scored a go-ahead basket against Grand Island CC in the second half during a Class C-1 girls state tournament semifinal game Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

Lincoln Christian’s Kenadee Ailes (30) swats away a layup attempt by Bridgeport’s Tracey From (4) while her teammate Jessa Hueser (1) guards the lane in the first half during a Class C-1 girls state tournament semifinal game Friday, March 1, 2024, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

Beatrice’s Kiley Hatcliff (21) and Addison Hatcliff (10) celebrate winning a Class B first-round girls state tournament game over Norris on Thursday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KATY COWELL, Journal Star

Lincoln North Star’s Sarah Gatwetch (right) celebrates with her teammates after placing their name on a bracket to advance to the semifinals following their win over Millard North in a Class A first-round girls state basketball tournament game Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star

The Omaha Central student section read their student newspaper while Millard West is introduced ahead of a Class A first-round girls state tournament game on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024 Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.

KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star

An array of ciders from Saro Cider — Joy Harvest with Arbor Day Farm (from left), grapefruit, cranberry spice, and a non-alcoholic raspberry Bellini — is shown with a pesto parmesan flatbread.

JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star

Bishop Neumann junior Anthony Kavan (left) plays a card game with sophomore Dominic Benes as the basketball team palys Cross County during a Class C-2 first-round girls state tournament game, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, at the Devaney Sports Center.

JUSTIN WAN Journal Star

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CentralSquare’s Unify software works with any CAD system and allows communicators to see assets from other jurisdictions and agencies and with permission send them to emergencies.CentralSquare TechnologiesInteroperability has long been a buzzword in the law enforcement and other public safety professions. Usually, the term applies to interagency radio or police and fire communications, but it can also apply to other communications tools.Since 2008, CentralSquare has been developing and implementing an interoperability technology that allows 911 call centers to share computer-aided dispatch (CAD) information. Last year, this CAD to CAD software product was rebranded as Unify.CentralSquare’s Unify works with any CAD system and allows emergency call center personnel to see assets from other agencies in the area. This means that with permission through a mutual aid agreement a dispatcher can send a unit from another agency, county, or city to an emergency right from their own CAD because it is closer to the people in need or because it possesses capabilities that are currently not available in their jurisdiction.Unify allows agencies to build cooperative CAD networks in the same geographic region and among different call centers. “At some point an emergency call center needs to talk to somebody outside your zone, and they’re going to be on a different CAD systems, or could be,” says Scott Panacek, product manager for CentralSquare. “So that’s where Unify comes in; it provides a standard way to communicate.”Panacek likens CentralSquare’s vendor agnostic Unify technology to a language translator. “Let’s say you had three law enforcement officers collaborating on the same incident. But one spoke English, one spoke Spanish, and one spoke Portuguese. They would need a translator. So that’s kind of what the Unify system does for different CAD systems. It allows CAD functions like dispatching units to happen from CAD vendor to CAD vendor.” Panacek stresses that none of the participants has to be using CentralSquare’s CAD in order to build a CAD to CAD network with Unify. They do, however, all have to have a subscription to Unify.What makes Unify capable of communicating across so many different CAD systems from different CAD vendors is CentralSquare’s open application programming interface (API), according to Panacek.“We’ve got open API that we provide to any CAD vendor, and it exposes the commands and rules that their system need to communicate with another agency’s system,” he explains. “There’s a data map that they can copy their data and their codes into. So everything maps to something common in the middle.”When using Unify, an emergency communicator can see all of the CAD-visible assets from the participating agencies. With permission from the owners of the assets, the communicator can dispatch them to incidents in another response area or jurisdiction.Panacek says the responding units are dispatched via their agencies existing mobile system . For the emergency communications personnel, using Unify does not change their procedures or what they see on the screen. The only difference is that it adds commands for mutual aid.The primary benefit of Unify for the public, for emergency responders, and for 911 centers is that it saves time. Cross-jurisdiction dispatch of public safety assets can literally save lives by facilitating faster response. For emergency responders it can reduce travel time, making it easier for agencies with personnel shortages to answer more calls.Emergency communications centers are also experiencing personnel shortages, and Unify can also help them save time. “They don’t have to hunt around searching for the proper person to call and spend time on the phone asking for assistance,” Panacek says.Unify can also let an overwhelmed communications center ask for help from another in their CAD-to-CAD network. “If they’re linked together, one communications center can pick up the call and get the units on the way for the other center,” Panacek says.Unify CAD to CAD is available now.    

College in Crisis: What Is IT’s Role During an Emergency?

Both during and in the recovery from the pandemic, cities, towns and villages across the country recognized the need to invest locally in efforts to advance public safety and justice. The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provides a variety of options for municipalities to invest in their local safety and justice ecosystems through the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) program. Those working on the front lines every day face a unique set of challenges that require specific and strategic investments. Investing in needs like equipment, training, mental health support, pilot programs, data infrastructure and more can make a difference in the ability to keep residents safe and supported.

NLC research has shown that within the Public Safety spending group identified in the Local Government ARPA Investment Tracker, cities and consolidated city counties have obligated:

46% of Public Safety funds to Other Public Safety

Examples: Purchasing ambulances and investing in equipment to reduce backlogs for medical examiner offices. etc.

32% of Public Safety funds to Police Departments

Examples: Purchasing rapid DNA testing equipment to exonerate those that are accused of crimes and funding for micro-grants in communities experiencing high crime.

14% of Public Safety funds to Violence Reduction and Prevention

Examples: Expanding mobile crisis response, expanding wraparound services for domestic violence survivors and group violence reduction strategy.

8% of Public Safety funds to Fire Departments

Examples: Hiring and training of fire department staff, purchasing equipment including pumper trucks, aerials, rescue units, and air packs.

This blog highlights spending ideas for how to meet the 2024 obligations deadline; however, be sure to review Treasury’s Final Rule for compliance and reporting guidance.

Spending Opportunities The spending opportunities in the table below include public health spending examples from municipalities of varying sizes with different categories of spending (low, medium, and high cost) to obligate remaining funds.  The Public Safety spending category was developed in partnership with NLC, Brookings Metro, and the National Association of Counties for the Local Government ARPA Investment Tracker. This resource is another means for local leaders to find thousands of project ideas across tiers.  

Local Opportunities for Further Investment

Regardless of locality size and available funding, there are multiple ways to advance safety and justice initiatives through ARPA. Opportunities and examples for utilizing unspent funds include:

1: Develop, Implement or Enhance a Comprehensive Safety/Violence Prevention Plan

Over the last year, cities have seen decreases in some crimes through investment in comprehensive and collaborative approaches. Through city structures like offices of neighborhood safety or violence prevention, these approaches allow for interventions like: Hospital-Based Violence Intervention, Group Violence Reduction Strategies, Community/Crisis Response models and more.

The City of Baltimore utilized ARPA funding to grow the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement (MONSE) and pilot innovative community safety initiatives. 

“This is a historic investment for Baltimore as these dollars will support approaches that confront and prevent the violence occurring on the streets today,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “With the launch of our Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS) and the future expansion of our evidence-based community violence intervention (CVI) programming, we remain intentional and steadfast in our commitment to make Baltimore a safer city for all. It is critically important that we build public safety with, not for, our residents.” Baltimore GVRS decreased shootings without increasing arrests in the city’s western district between 2022 and 2023.

2: Engage Community in Conversations and Decision-Making Dialogues

As localities work to improve local safety, it is important to authentically engage with residents about those plans which requires funding for things like food, childcare, transportation and where possible, stipends for participation. Additionally, developing and implementing a community engagement and communications strategy around safety and justice- is critical for city leaders, – particularly when focused on engaging with youth, young adults and those most impacted by violence/crime.

3: Provide Resources for Safe Storage

Either through education campaigns or the provision of safe storage locks, cities can create opportunities for residents to safely store firearms and prevent injury. Recently, the White House announced new executive actions to support similar initiatives.

SLFRF spending examples include:          New Orleans, LA – $20,250 for a gun safety campaign aimed at promoting safe storage practices for gun owners.

Upper Darby, PA – $50,000 to purchase and provide resident gun owners with gun locks for safer use.

4: Invest in Safety/Justice Workforce 

Through mental health support, training opportunities, supplies and equipment, incentives and more, municipalities can invest in the traditional and reimagined safety/justice workforce via ARPA investments. For instance, local governments can upgrade or enhance fire and/or emergency response equipment (such as vehicles, communication systems, etc.). Alternatively, using ARPA funds to implement policies/practices that recruit and retain emergency responders and law enforcement could strengthen a municipality’s public safety response. Finally, supporting worker healing and wellbeing will strengthen the capacity of the public safety workforce, especially for violence intervention workers facing trauma or burnout.

SLFRF spending examples include:

City of Fresno, CA – $4,608,200 for Police Department personnel retention through labor contract negotiations and additional resources for sworn personnel costs.

5: Create Opportunities for Youth, Young Adults, Victims & Returning Citizens

By investing in those most impacted by crime and violence, cities can create stronger support and opportunities that lead to safer communities. Examples include assessment centers, sobering centers, transitional housing for impacted populations, workforce development programs, victim’s compensation and more.

SLFRF spending examples of Summer Youth Employment Program investments include:City of New York, New York SYEP – $7,998,296 to create a Summer Youth Employment Program for over 4,000 City University of New York (CUNY) students, targeting those living in NYCHA public housing and who were most impacted by COVID-19.

City of Detroit, MI – $14,250,000 to establish an SYEP providing youth with career-oriented information, training, and experience to improve the employment pipeline and connect young people to permanent, high-paying positions.

SLFRF spending examples of Victim’s Compensation investments include:

Chicago, IL – $10,000,000 to provide services and support to victims of violent crime and their families.

6: Enhance or Support Local Safety/Justice Data/ and Technology

Technological investments can promote local safety. Municipalities can start collecting data and coordinating systems to inform their comprehensive safety plans and create public safety dashboards, like Baltimore’s Public Safety Accountability Dashboard. By tracking key public safety metrics and mapping community violence interventions, municipalities can effectively communicate crime and safety data while setting the stage for greater and sustainable funding for violence prevention efforts.

Investing in Safer Communities Beyond ARPA

ARPA and the SLFRF program provided municipalities the opportunity to invest in and support local safety and justice efforts. While these investments are critical, it is important that local leaders keep sustainability and longevity at the forefront. To sustain and grow the efforts that show promise via SLFRF investments, localities should consider where there are opportunities within their budget, through philanthropic investments and via federal grants.

Potential opportunities for additional federal support include:

Glossary

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is the $1.9 trillion economic stimulus and pandemic recovery legislation signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021. This blog and its series focus on the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program; therefore, authors may use “ARPA” and “SLFRF” interchangeably. 

Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) is the $350 billion program authorized by ARPA that provides economic stimulus and pandemic recovery funding to U.S. states, territories, cities, counties, and tribal governments.

Allocations are the total funds distributed to state and local governments through SLFRF. 

Adopted Budget are dollars distributed to local governments through SLFRF that have been budgeted or committed to specific initiatives or programs.

Spent means the grantee has issued checks, disbursed cash, or made electronic transfers to liquidate (or settle) an obligation.

Obligations are dollars distributed to state and local governments through SLFRF that have been legally dedicated to specific uses, frequently (but not exclusively) through contractual agreements. The Treasury’s recent guidance defines obligations as “orders placed for property and services and entry into contracts, subawards, and similar transactions that require payment.” The Final Rule requires recipient local governments to obligate 100 percent of their SLFRF allocations by December 2024.  

Tier 1 local governments are metropolitan cities and counties with populations greater than 250,000. These jurisdictions include states, U.S. territories, and counties but NLC’s focus for this series is on cities. These governments are required to report quarterly, and the last reporting date captured in our data is from September 30, 2023.

Tier 2 local governments are metropolitan cities with a population below 250,000 residents that are allocated more than $10 million in SLFRF funding, and NEUs that are allocated more than $10 million in SLFRF funding. These jurisdictions include counties but NLC’s focus for this series is on cities. These governments are required to report quarterly, and the last reporting date captured in our data is from September 30, 2023.

Tier 5 local governments are metropolitan cities with a population below 250,000 residents that are allocated less than $10 million in SLFRF funding, and NEUs that are allocated less than $10 million in SLFRF funding. These jurisdictions include counties but NLC’s focus for this series is on cities. These governments are required to report yearly, and the last reporting date captured in our data is from April 31, 2023. Non-entitlement units (NEUs) are local governments that typically serve 50,000 residents or less. Of the $65.1 billion allocated to municipal governments across the country, SLFRF allocated $19.5 billion, or 30 percent, to NEUs. Comparatively, SLFRF allocated $45.6 billion, or 70 percent, to metropolitan cities. Depending on if an NEU is a Tier 2 or Tier 5 recipient, they may have different reporting requirements.

The authors would also like to acknowledge Maryam Ahmed and Tony McCright for their support in writing this blog. Thank you to Christy Baker-Smith, Julia Bauer, Irma Esparza Diggs, Josh Franzel, Patrick Rochford, Archana Sridhar, and Melissa Williams for their review of this blog.

About the Authors

About the Authors

Yucel (u-jel) Ors is the Director of Public Safety and Crime Prevention at the National League of Cities.

Kirby Gaherty is the Program Director for Justice Initiatives at the National League of Cities.

Ian Grice is the Justice Initiatives Data Program Specialist at the National League of Cities.

Sarah Minster is a Research Specialist with the Research & Data Analysis Center.

Peter Clemons discusses 5G’s possible impact and the factors that must be considered by the critical comms industry and society as a whole if we are to realise its full potential
In just over a century we have discovered how to harness the power and value of the electromagnetic spectrum – just as we did in bygone eras with fire, agriculture, domesticated animals, steam and fossil fuels. And yet, in spite of our growing list of achievements, each generation forgets at its peril the fragile nature of our continued existence on Earth.
There are clear signs that the established order is breaking down; terrorism, national financial crashes and increasingly polarised politics to name a few. We struggle to find the right answers to crises because we are asking the wrong questions and still using an analytical framework that no longer serves us in these times of change.
We need a new way of thinking and a new way of seeing the world. People looking for simple yes-no values for their big data experiments and concrete answers to justify clean-cut hypotheses will be disappointed. We need new conceptual tools to manage the data that we are being bombarded with.
We are moving through an uncertain present towards a future that is still far from clear. In the area of mobile communications this period coincides with the move from a relatively stable 2G (GSM/TETRA) world of the early 2000s to an end-game 5G world by the end of the 2020s, passing through a very messy 3G/4G (UMTS/LTE) world where different technologies collide, producing friction.
We stand on the edge of a new era – the 5G era of smart cities, smart grids, Internet of Things, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and Blockchain – where ubiquitous networked sensors, actuators, algorithms, robots and other devices embedded with powerful capabilities will demand new ways of creating, distributing and storing value. We will have new methods of organising ourselves, and new legal and social norms for dealing with a contemporary generation of conflicts and co-ordination problems.
Can we cope when we are forced to compete against alternative forms of intelligence, created by us, but in many ways much more powerful than ourselves? Who will get to play God in the 5G era?
What will 5G bring?Although we have no clear idea yet what the 5G era will look like (and there are bound to be infinite surprises along the way) a growing number of players are beginning to articulate likely scenarios. The Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) Alliance published a whitepaper last year detailing a number of use cases that highlight the major challenges facing governments, developers, operators, investors and potential users. These groups are all required to deliver and embrace a holistic 5G vision within a reasonable timeframe, based on the hard realities facing all stakeholders in 2016:

Broadband access with peak data rates of 10 Gbps and an average of one Gbps in dense urban environments to allow “pervasive video”.
Broadband access everywhere with speeds of 50 Mbps and up.
Higher user mobility, especially on transport such as trains and aeroplanes.
The massive Internet of Things – sensor networks with millions of nodes within a single square kilometre; massive capillary networks with no single point of failure and no single point of security weakness.
Extreme real-time communications. Tactile internet with haptic feedback for remote control.
Lifeline communications for public safety, emergency services and natural disaster relief operations.
Ultra-reliable communications for emergency calls, e-health, mission-critical operations, automated industrial procedures, and connected cars.
Broadcast-like services – immersive experiences that enable “being there” without being there, virtual and augmented reality without the motion sickness.

There is no way that we will be able to deliver this vision by building 5G networks based on a single air interface, a single architecture and particularly not on an ageing internet based on TCP/IP and other current protocols. This society will require critical communications all the way to its edge. We will need new mechanisms to deliver universal coverage, or else this ambitious vision will fail.
A global 5G research programme is a noble endeavour and we cannot turn away from following this path, but we need to start taking a longer-term view of what can be achieved and how long it will take to arrive, rather than setting unrealistic deadlines that will lead to poorly-designed systems.
New answers to new questionsThe recent ETSI Summit ‘5G: From Myth to Reality’ on April 21 raised a lot more questions than answers about the why of 5G. During the opening policy session, European Commission representatives talked about a new wave of innovations lifting Europe out of recession and creating a new dynamic economy. However, the speakers in the rest of the sessions were fairly evenly split. On the one hand are non-technical people focusing on the all-singing-all-dancing new applications that will transform society. On the other are the more technically-minded presenters who clearly understand the enormous challenges and the huge amount of work that will need to be done to convert the current plethora of ‘nice toy’ solutions into fully secured, affordable, useful services.
Where do we start when building a full list of the serious challenges facing our community?:

The need for adequate, available, harmonised spectrum on a global scale;
The need for global standards for the next-generation, secure and private-by-design internet that must replace the current one being constantly patched up from crisis to crisis. This will allow the fully secured smart cities and smart grids that will drive future societies;
The new governance models, business models, legal requirements and consensus protocols that will underpin this new society;
The re-structuring of education and healthcare systems to prepare the current and future global workforce for a world populated by autonomous vehicles, machines and robots;
The 100 per cent geographical coverage required to deliver the full 5G era vision;
Sub-millisecond latency for more advanced applications such as tactile internet.

Have governments started a serious debate with their citizens about how we are going to organise ourselves in a better way as a global society to make sure we iron out inconsistencies and minimise the chances of something really bad happening on a global scale once everything is connected? Of course not.
We can’t stop the 5G era from happening and even if we could, we should not. However, we do need to educate the public about the challenges and opportunities of moving to this new world. We must also study all the possible consequences of embracing these new technologies.
In a complex, contradictory world we cannot leave the messy decisions to robots, algorithms, governments or technology companies. We all need to have a say, using new tools to enhance our intelligence, but definitely not to replace it. The 5G era is approaching and an open, honest, public debate needs to start now. We cannot allow the usual suspects at the top of our current social hierarchy to play God in such an interconnected world. We need to find the right way of engaging society in this conversation.All communications become criticalThe critical communications sector has traditionally been focused on building private, highly secure, robust and resilient networks for government, public safety, transport, utilities, oil, gas & mining and other industrial facilities, that required ICT networks separated from the public. During the 1990s and 2000s global standards such as TETRA, P25 and DMR were developed to cater for the needs of these highly-demanding users, who pay a certain premium for greater control and special services beyond that offered by commercial operators.
However, each generation of mobile communications technology requires greater investment, as well as a global standards approach to achieve the faster speeds and the evolved form factors desired by a global user community.Following the financial crisis governments have been looking for ways to reduce spending on public services, including critical communications networks for emergency services. This has led to the development of public safety LTE by 3GPP, the global standards body that has adapted, enhanced and hardened commercial solutions within its latest releases to incorporate some of the functionality required by emergency services and other professional users.
Governments and emergency services around the world have now started the long process of switching to new critical communications solutions. In the United States the government has assigned 2×10 MHz of spectrum and $7 billion for the development of a new nationwide broadband network – FirstNet – dedicated to public safety. In the United Kingdom the government has decided to replace the existing dedicated national TETRA network with a commercially-sourced, LTE-based solution with no dedicated spectrum.
Europe is taking a sensible, long-term approach by renewing TETRA networks and testing hardened LTE solutions until global standards and harmonised spectrum allow the next generation of solutions to emerge. The rest of the world is looking at options ranging from dedicated and/or commercial spectrum, publicly- and/or privately-funded, publicly- or privately-operated models and everything in-between. Over the next decade or so each country will try different models to see which ones work and which ones don’t.
As if the current situation were not complex enough, society faces ever greater disruption at ever higher speeds as the 5G juggernaut appears on the horizon. But just what is 5G? And do we really need it? Can we define it and explain it more clearly to a sceptical public and move beyond bits and bytes, speeds and gimmicks, to focus on real products and services that people can understand and accept?
How do we make sure we get it right?
How many steps are there from 2G to 5G? As many as necessary with an honest, comprehensive evaluation of progress at regular staging posts along the road to make sure that 5G is as inclusive and useful as possible to the maximum number of people.
Quixoticity has recently joined ETSI and 3GPP to play a greater role in the critical work that is underway globally to define this exciting 5G era. We must move forward carefully and conscientiously, but also firmly and resolutely, identifying the real problems facing society and starting to address them before the cracks that have appeared in our current system become too large to be filled in. This will require unprecedented global effort because of its size and scope, based on new design principles, new governance principles and new ways of collaborating and working together. We must have flexible, agile ecosystems based on robust, resilient infrastructure with security and privacy baked into the fundamental fabric of the system from the very beginning. We do not have a lot of time, but we have enough to make sure that solid foundations are in place for a new society and economy that can be more resilient than the imperfect systems we currently have.
This new world will require a Global Critical Alliance that will slowly emerge from our current structures and organisations. Quixoticity is also developing a Global Critical Index that will map out the steps required by critical infrastructure and emergency communications providers to get us from where we are now to where we need to be. Such an Index – built on new principles and radically new criteria and variables than the reports and indexes of recent times – will focus on the search for best practice in a common-sense framework. We will have to take into account sensible timeframes and adequate business and operational models that keep us safe by combining the best of old and new, public and private, commercial and critical and that provide a basic, universal service to all global citizens wherever they are and however rich or poor they might be. The Global Critical Index will be explained in greater detail in future articles.
We must use all available talent, skills and experience to ensure we make the right choices. We cannot leave them to a traditionally narrow dominant class within a traditionally hierarchical global society. In the 5G era there must be no sun gods who decide the winners and losers. It requires greater accountability and transparency. The 5G era also needs a new way of distributing wealth so that everyone can participate in the global society. It requires humans to rediscover meaning and significance within their lives and for everyone to receive the tools they need to reach their full potential for the collective good.
This world will not arrive in 2020. Not even in 2030. The future stretches out ahead of us and there are many forks in the road. Which path will we follow? Will we rush into the 5G era without thinking carefully about the global society and economy we wish to create, and pay a heavy price? Or will we all become more engaged in a long, stimulating, evolving process of discovery where we lay the foundations of a safe, secure and richer society where the possibilities are limitless and we are all allowed to succeed and fail without fear?

Towering rock formations, glittering stars, a glimpse of the Milky Way — and flashing red lights from a telecommunications tower?That could be what you see in the sky during your next visit to southeastern Utah.On Feb. 8, the San Juan County Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit for a telecom tower within Bears Ears National Monument. The proposed tower would surpass the tallest building in Utah — the Astra Tower in Salt Lake City, which will be 449 feet tall when it’s completed — at 460 feet tall.The tower would be located on a parcel of land within the monument owned by the Utah Trust Lands Administration, which leases and sells land to generate revenue for the state’s public schools. Last month, the Utah Legislature and Gov. Spencer Cox rejected a land exchange that would have put this parcel in the federal government’s hands.(Christopher Cherrington | The Salt Lake Tribune)Vertical Bridge Development LLC, a Boca Raton, Fla.-based company and the largest private owner of communications infrastructure nationwide, proposed the project.“Our main objective is to make money for the trust, and this land benefits public schools,” Marla Kennedy, a spokesperson for the Utah Trust Lands Administration, said. “Any money we can make for public schools, we consider advantageous.”A San Juan County Planning Commission staff report summarizing the proposal says that the tower is “intended to fill communication gaps in the area as well as support infrastructure already in place to the southern part of the county.”The telecom tower would enable emergency services to quickly respond to 911 calls, enhance broadband needed for online school and work, improve residents’ ability to access telehealth services online and bolster economic activity in the area, according to the San Juan County Planning Commission.The proposed project will have to clear the San Juan County Commission.“It’s going to benefit everyone,” Commission Chair Jamie Harvey, also an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, told The Tribune. “Ultimately, it comes down to safety for our visitors coming to the area and helping out first responders.”“From a cultural perspective,” Harvey continued, “we gather wood up that way. I wouldn’t want to be stuck in a pickle in an area where I’m collecting wood and get stranded. Our elders are doing that, too. They don’t care how old they are; they just want to get wood so they can make it through the winter.”San Juan County Commission Vice Chair Silvia Stubbs and Commissioner Bruce Adams did not respond to a request for comment.Between the voices that recommend the telecom tower to improve public safety and internet access in remote San Juan County, some community members are not so sure.“I go out there quite a bit because it’s an area I like to go to when I need to get away and take a pause,” Davina Smith, a Diné resident of San Juan County running to represent District 69 in the Utah House of Representatives said.“I have no doubt that there are better solutions that do not include having a gigantic tower in the middle of nowhere,” she continued. “Let’s work with [the U.S. Forest Service] and the Bureau of Land Management. It should be about collaboration with these agencies rather than having this 460-foot tower.”The planning commission’s staff report includes that “the tower applicant is unaware of any impacts on endangered species, national historic sites, migratory birds, or Native American/Tribal lands,” though Smith raised concerns about those impacts.If built, the tower’s blinking lights — one at the top, and one halfway up — could be seen from Natural Bridges National Monument, which is located within Bears Ears’ boundaries. The International Dark-Sky Association, which works to protect dark-sky areas from artificial lighting, certified Natural Bridges as the first International Dark Sky Park in 2007.The National Park Service (NPS) did not respond to a request for comment about the proposed tower’s impact to Natural Bridges’ starry skies, but an NPS website on stargazing reads: “Due to its remote location, Natural Bridges preserves a primordial dark sky largely unaltered by modernity. The National Park Service wants to keep it that way.”The San Juan County Commission would have to modify the county code to allow for the construction of the tower. The maximum height for buildings where this parcel is located is just 35 feet.“If approved, this proposal would be disastrous for Natural Bridges and Bears Ears National Monuments and a real blight on the landscape,” said Neal Clark, wildlands director for the nonprofit Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. ”It’s the latest example of why Utah trust lands need to be urgently traded out of sensitive public lands and underscores the Trust Lands Administration’s shortsighted view of what it means to benefit Utah’s schoolchildren. We hope that the San Juan County Commission has enough respect for both the natural beauty and dark night skies of the Bears Ears landscape to deny the requested variance.”The San Juan County Commission has not yet made a decision on whether to approve the proposed telecom tower. Harvey said that the public will be able to make comments on the project when it is discussed.The commission’s meeting schedule and agendas can be found at this link.

The Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) has announced 25 dispatchers from across the state graduated from the Public Safety Dispatch Academy and are now ready to begin answering the call to aid both citizens and law enforcement officers of the Commonwealth.
“Thank you for answering the call of service,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “Your mission is an important one, as you are now the lifeline to those facing some of their darkest and scariest times. Thank you for being a hero and the ears to Kentucky’s first responders.”
Dispatch basic training is mandatory for any sworn or civilian employee who will dispatch law enforcement officers by radio at a Criminal Justice Information Systems agency. Graduates of the academy have successfully completed a highly structured and comprehensive curriculum to satisfy mandated training requirements. The graduates of Class 155 received 164 hours of academy instruction to satisfy these requirements over four weeks. Major training areas included identifying the role and responsibilities of the dispatcher, correct phone and radio procedures, handling emergency and non-emergency calls for service, emergency medical dispatch protocols and use of the state and national criminal databases.
“I am proud of your accomplishments while at the academy,” DOCJT Commissioner Nicolai Jilek said. “Your four weeks of training have laid a solid foundation for a rewarding career for years to come. I wish you the best of luck in your careers.”
DOCJT is a state agency located on the Eastern Kentucky University campus. The agency is the first in the nation to be accredited under the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies’ public safety training program designation.

Class 155 graduates and their agencies are:

• Elizabeth M. Baudino, Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office• Jeffrey Boone, Bluegrass 911 Central Communications• Taylor J. Bosley, Owensboro Police Department• Kimberly Bravo, Oak Grove Police Department• Erin F. Embry, Logan County ECC• Hannah M. Frymire, Hardin County 911• Lisa L. Gates, Lexington E-911• Kylee M. Godbey, Bluegrass 911 Central Communications• Cassidy Jackson, Hopkinsville Police Department• Christopher N. Johnson, Clinton County Emergency Services• Shelby Ranae Johnson, Boyd County PSCC 911• Tracy Lee Lightfield, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport AOC• Bailey B. Lucas, Georgetown Police Department• Savanna D. Miller, University of Louisville Police Department• Darian J. Mitchell, Greensburg Police Department• Austin Kunath Music, Pikeville Police Department• Lisa J. Norton, Bracken County 911• Shawn Marie Regis, Georgetown Police Department• Austin T. Rowland, Boone County PSCC• Amber TeShae Russell, Monticello/Wayne County 911• Jeri A. Spencer, Barren-Metcalfe County ECC• James Michael Spradlin, Prestonsburg Police Department• Alexis Gail Thomas, Pikeville Police Department• Cody J. Wells, Lexington E-911• Hannah Faith Wise, Georgetown Police Department
DOCJT provides basic training for city and county police officers, sheriffs’ deputies, university police, airport police throughout the state, only excluding Louisville Metro Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Bowling Green Police Department, and the Kentucky State Police, which each have independent academies.
Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet

Control rooms  |   Narrowband  |   Broadband  |   Satellite  |  2024-03-12

At BAPCO2024 main stage sessions, hosted by John Black and Cate Walton, drew the largest crowds as they provided a much-anticipated update on the ongoing publicsafety mission-critical communications journey – ESN.

The British APCO (BAPCO) Annual Event 2024, bapco2024, brought together industry leaders, experts, and enthusiasts to explore the latest developments in public safety, mission-critical communications. The event was notable for its focus on the Emergency Services Network (ESN), spearheaded by Programme Director John Black and Chief Engineer Cate Walton.
The main stage sessions, hosted by John Black and Cate Walton, drew the largest crowds as they provided a much-anticipated update on the ongoing publicsafety mission-critical communications journey – ESN. The session began with a warm welcome from UK Home Office Crime, Policing & Fire Minister, Chris Philp, setting the tone for the informative presentations that followed.
John Black revisited last year’s memorable “shopping trolley” slide, highlighting the re-procurement of Lot 2 – Services. The decision on this procurement is anticipated “by the end of the summer,” adding a layer of suspense to the proceedings. The significance of MCX testing at scale took center stage in John’s presentation, emphasizing continued testing of Motorola Solutions’ Kodiak app. However, the app faces imminent replacement at the end of 2024 following Motorola’s removal from the program.
The complexity of delivering an end-to-end, nationwide solution was a recurring theme, along with updates on coverage, including the Extended Area Services (EAS). Unfortunately, the eagerly awaited new ESN timeline (2026?, 2029? 2030s?) hinges on the signing of new contracts and the agreement of a roll-out schedule.
Cate Walton took the stage to shed light on ESMCP’s international collaboration efforts. Notable mentions included TCCA, 3GPP, ETSI, and the Global Certification Forum. Partnerships with organizations such as the French Ministère de l’Intérieur et des Outre-mer ACMOSS, Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap (DSB), Suomen Erillisverkot -konserni, and the First Responder Network Authority were also highlighted.
The event welcomed familiar faces like Renaud Mellies, Ari Toivonen, and others, contributing to the vibrant atmosphere. BAPCO Chair, Chris Lucas, added an element of interactivity by correctly predicting the first questioner. Attendees refrained from posing technical questions, keeping John and Cate on their toes during the session.
Senior Industry analyst Ken Rehbehn brought attention to teh recent AT&T FirstNet, Built with AT&T outage, sparking anticipation for further discussions at IWCE 2024 in two weeks time. Gratitude was extended to John Black and Cate Walton for their insightful update and engaging offline conversations during the Coventry event.
Reflecting on the decade-long challenge of ESN/ESMCP, the hope was expressed for clarity on its delivery by the incoming UK Government by the same time next year.
The diverse conference program offered engaging options, including tech tours and a networking lounge. Valuable market insights into tech challenges faced by the public safety communications sector were gained through encounters with both familiar and new faces.
Events like BAPCO are invaluable to Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and technology suppliers. They provide a platform to test assumptions about what’s truly important to customers. For Cloud Gateway, engagement with those on the front line is critical to ensuring the relevance and impact of the solutions designed.
Special acknowledgments were made during the event, such as congratulating Georgie Green, ARP PMO Analyst, for receiving the Ian Thompson Bursary Award. Georgie’s plans to attend Critical Communications World in Dubai later this year to enhance her technical knowledge were celebrated.
Sepura dedicated a moment to celebrate International Women’s Day, recognizing and appreciating the contributions of women in their events. The commitment to diversity and inclusion was reiterated, acknowledging the importance of inspiring inclusion in the tech sector.
Motorola Solutions participated in an insightful session led by Ian Williams, exploring how AI can address challenges in policing.
Peter Jones ILG, showcased a new release. Notably, the introduction of the NEW Klick Fast MOLLE Dock by KlickFast products and the OW10HV land mobility terminal wa launched for the first time by the Excelerate Technology Group..
At BAPCO, Sepura PLC unveiled the SCL3 Hybrid Vehicle Device, emphasizing its potential as a tool to facilitate the transition to missioncritical broadband. The device’s versatility, with optional TETRA and LTE modules, positions it as a potent tool linking to future MCX developments.
While the event buzzed with excitement, new innovations and new releases from various companies were relatively low. However, the event provided a platform for engaging discussions and valuable insights. A summary of notable interactions with specific companies follows:
Motorola Solutions: A Glimpse into Cutting-Edge Technology
Motorola Solutions took center stage at the BAPCO Annual Event 2024 by unveiling the highly anticipated TLK25 device. This innovative addition to their repertoire promises to redefine communication standards, aligning with the evolving needs of the industry. Beyond just unveiling new hardware, Motorola Solutions showcased their prowess in video solutions, unveiling the V500 Body-Worn Camera (BWC). The V500 BWC brings forth advanced features, highlighting Motorola Solutions’ commitment to providing comprehensive solutions for public safety and critical communications.
Hytera Communications Europe: Collaborative Product Display
Hytera Communications Europe made an impact at the event by presenting an array of their existing products. Notably, the PT590 caught the attention of attendees, offering a unique perspective into Hytera’s capabilities. The positive experience was amplified by the cooperative efforts of Andrej Dodic, who played a pivotal role in providing insights and facilitating interactions. This collaboration added an extra layer of engagement and made Hytera’s stand a focal point for those exploring the latest advancements in communications technology.
Tait Communications: Quality Radios Amidst Minimalism
Despite a relatively sparse stand, Tait Communications managed to impress attendees with the display of high-quality radios. The emphasis on quality over quantity spoke volumes about Tait’s commitment to delivering reliable and efficient communication solutions. Visitors to Tait’s stand were treated to a focused showcase, demonstrating that Tait Communications places paramount importance on the excellence of their products, ensuring they meet the highest standards in critical communications.
Airbus Public Safety and Security: Solutions-Driven Interaction
While Airbus Public Safety and Security (yes this is the new name fcompany focused on critical communications)  did not unveil new devices, their focus on presenting updated solutions resonated with the attendees. The friendly and approachable staff played a crucial role in turning the booth into an interactive hub. Engaging discussions on the showcased solutions provided valuable insights into Airbus’s commitment to evolving technologies. The absence of new devices was compensated by an enriching experience that emphasized the practical applications of their solutions in the ever-changing landscape of public safety and security.
Sepura: Contrasting Experiences with Innovation
Sepura’s presence at the event drew mixed experiences. On one hand, the introduction of the SCL3 LTE device marked a notable release, indicating a forward-thinking approach to communication solutions, especially in consideration of the new ESN. At the show, Sepura succeeded in leaving a lasting impact with their innovative SCL3 LTE device.
Handsfree Group UK: Professionalism in Innovation
Handsfree Group UK emerged as a beacon of professionalism by showcasing new solutions with a level of sophistication that reflected their commitment to excellence. The professionalism extended beyond the product display, creating an environment conducive to meaningful interactions. The stand not only demonstrated the innovation within Handsfree Group UK but also communicated their dedication to providing cutting-edge solutions in the realm of critical communications.
RugGear: Minor Discrepancy Amidst Professionalism
RugGear’s professional presentation was slightly tainted by a minor discrepancy noted in the labeling of the RG750. Nevertheless, the overall impression remained positive, emphasizing RugGear’s commitment to presenting their products in a polished and engaging manner. The minor labeling issue did little to detract from the professional and informative nature of RugGear’s showcase.
Sonic Communications (Int) Ltd: Consistency Amidst Stability
Sonic Communications (Int) Ltd maintained a consistent stance by not introducing new releases at the event. While the absence of new products might have been anticipated, the stability and reliability associated with Sonic Communications (Int) Ltd products were reaffirmed. The booth served as a testament to the enduring quality of their existing offerings, providing attendees with a reliable choice in the realm of critical communications.
Panorama Antennas: Quality Over Quantity
Panorama Antennas opted for a quality-focused approach by displaying their range of good-quality models without introducing new ones. The decision to focus on existing products underlines Panorama Antennas’ commitment to delivering reliable and effective solutions. The showcase highlighted that, sometimes, maintaining excellence in proven models can be as impactful as introducing new innovations.
Cradlepoint, part of Ericsson: Smart Devices and Knowledgeable Staff
Cradlepoint, part of Ericsson, chose not to unveil new releases but succeeded in showcasing smart devices with a knowledgeable staff. The emphasis on intelligence and the expertise of the staff highlighted the depth of understanding within Cradlepoint, creating an informative and engaging environment for attendees. This approach reinforced the notion that sometimes, the smart utilization of existing technologies can be just as impactful as introducing new devices.
BelFone Communications: Openness to Discussions
BelFone Communications did not display new releases, but the staff exhibited openness to discussions regarding their products. The willingness to engage in meaningful conversations with attendees created an environment conducive to learning and exploration. The open approach showcased BelFone Communications’ commitment to understanding the needs of their audience and fostering connections within the critical communications community.
Leonardo: Quality Discussions on Gateway Solutions
Leonardo made its mark by engaging in quality discussions about their gateway solutions. The emphasis on meaningful conversations demonstrated their commitment to addressing the specific needs and queries of attendees. The focus on gateway solutions indicated Leonardo’s strategic approach to providing comprehensive and tailored offerings in the critical communications sector.
3tc Software Ltd.: Innovative Dispatch Solutions
3tc Software Ltd. captured attention by presenting innovative dispatch solutions, including their latest update. The inclusion of the latest update showcased their commitment to continuous improvement and staying at the forefront of technological advancements. The interesting dispatch solutions provided attendees with a glimpse into the evolving landscape of critical communications technology.
Frequentis: Versatile Control Room Solutions
Frequentis left a lasting impression by displaying multiple control room solutions. The versatility showcased in their solutions hinted at the adaptability of Frequentis to meet the diverse needs of critical communications. Friendly staff further enhanced the overall experience, creating an interactive space where attendees could explore and understand the capabilities of Frequentis in the context of control room solutions.
In conclusion, the BAPCO Annual Event 2024 served as a dynamic platform for companies to showcase their innovations and engage with industry professionals. Each participant, with its unique approach, contributed to the diverse landscape of critical communications technology, emphasizing the ongoing evolution and adaptation within the industry. As the event concluded, attendees departed with a wealth of insights and a sense of the current state and future trajectory of critical communications technology.
Picture: Courtesey of FCS