Comm Center News
MVECC To Accept Imagery From 911 Callers With New Software (NJ)
Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC), a regional public safety answering point serving the communities of New Providence, Summit, and Millburn, New Jersey, announces the implementation of Motorola Solutions CommandCentral Citizen Input, an...
‘It’s just call after call’: California 911 dispatcher – New
With a COVID-19 surge that is killing one person every 15 minutes in California’s Los Angeles County, the 911 emergency medical system has been stretched to the brink. [CLICK READ MORE TO VIEW VIDEO]...
Kenneth “Ken” J. Van Patten passes away (FL)
Kenneth J. Van Patten, age 85, of Punta Gorda, FL passed away December 9, 2020 at home. He worked for the Hennepin County Sheriff Department Minneapolis and later the Elk River Police Department and the Sherburne Country Sheriff Office. In his consulting career, he...
Retired Connecticut state trooper who responded to Sandy Hook shooting dies of COVID-19 (CT)
HARTFORD, Conn. — A retired Connecticut State Police trooper who was among the first to respond to the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School has died of COVID-19, according to multiple police officials. The CSP says retired Trooper First Class Patrick...
Only on CBS 6: Albany emergency dispatcher’s desperate cry for help (NY)
CBS6’s Emily DeFeciani spoke with a man who has been employed as an Emergency Dispatcher in Albany for the last few years. We are keeping him anonymous, for fear of losing his job. Currently, according to the Albany Police Officers Union president, Greg McGee, the...
Alachua County must pay $1.6M bill or face shutdown of public safety system (FL)
After the county failed to negotiate a new contract with Gainesville Regional Utilities’ GRUCom for its public safety radio system, GRUCom billed the county $1.6 million — more than double the county’s usual cost for running the system, or else it could face a system...
Bloomington’s Community Advisory on Public Safety Commission seeks diverse applicants (IN)
Bloomington’s new Community Advisory on Public Safety Commission is open for applications to fill 11 vacant positions, the City of Bloomington’s Clerk’s Office announced Dec. 30. The commission will research “evidence-based alternatives to traditional policing” and...
WOMAN ARRESTED FOR MAKING OVER 100 NON-EMERGENCY CALLS TO 9-1-1 (CA)
On Dec. 27, 2020, at about 5:30 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the 3800 block of Walnut Drive, in the county’s jurisdiction of Eureka, to serve a Ramey Warrant for the improper use of 9-1-1. The suspect, 67-year-old Magdeline Pereira, was wanted...
New Tennessee law allows trained 911 operators to give CPR instructions to emergency callers
New legislation in Tennessee gives all 911 operators across the state the resources to provide CPR instructions to callers in an emergency situation. The law went into effect January 1, 2021 and it provides quick training for all 911 tele-communicators in Tennessee....
Text to 911 now available in San Diego County
SAN DIEGO — Texting emergency messages to 911 is now an option in San Diego County. The sheriff’s department said calling is still the fastest way to reach first responders. If you can’t make a call, you can now text 911 to reach police and fire rescue services...
Spokane plans for fire-dispatch future without backup from new regional agency (WA)
The Spokane Regional Emergency Communications agency and the city of Spokane will not renew an agreement that provides the city’s fire dispatchers backup when they are short-staffed. Instead, the city will look to buttress its own staffing to avoid dipping below the...
Work to start on Piscataquis County public safety radio study (ME)
DOVER-FOXCROFT — After a delay due to a snowstorm last month, initial work will start soon on a feasibility study for a Piscataquis County public safety radio system. During a Jan. 5 meeting of the Piscaaquis County Commissioners, Piscataquis County Emergency...
Looking ahead: What to expect in the Ripon area in 2021 (WI)
Should Ripon move its dispatch center to Fond du Lac County? That’s been one of the most contentious issues of 2020. While Police Chief Bill Wallner and Ripon Area Fire District Chief Tim Saul have noted they don’t think the move would jeopardize community safety,...
North Texas Police Dispatcher, Officer Credited With Helping Save Man From Choking
BLUE MOUND, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) – A police dispatcher and officer in the Tarrant County city of Blue Mound are being credited with acting fast to save a man from choking. A camera captured the event from inside the front door of a police station. When a man walked in...
RCHD vaccinating public safety workers (KS)
The Riley County Health Department is beginning to vaccinate people who aren’t in health care but have jobs that affect public safety. Health department director Julie Gibbs said RCHD staff vaccinated emergency dispatch personnel and water treatment operators. She...
“Text to speech” feature has improved fire, medical response times, 911 director says (KY)
The computer dispatch function launched by Owensboro-Daviess County 911 early last year has helped fire and medical responders respond to scenes more quickly, dispatch center Director Paul Nave said this week. In February, the dispatch center implemented its text to...
Nationwide debate emerges on how to secure communication networks in wake of Nashville bombing (TN)
Four days after the bombing on Christmas Day in downtown Nashville crippled cell service, internet and even key tools for law enforcement across a multi-state region, White County, Tennessee residents still struggled to get through to the...
AT&T provides initial insights about FirstNet performance, recovery efforts after Nashville explosion
Some FirstNet subscribers experienced service outages after the massive Dec. 25 explosion at AT&T’s Nashville network hub, but backup battery power at the facility and the use of deployable cell sites meant that many FirstNet users were able to communicate “within...
Atlanta’s ‘Overlooked’ 9-1-1 Dispatchers Could Get Pay Hike (GA)
Over two years ago, when Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announced a 30% pay raise for the city's police officers, it was heralded as a big win for department morale, recruitment and retention. Not included in that group of employees who got the...
Butler County Sheriff’s Office investigating after communications system hacked (OH)
BUTLER COUNTY, Ohio — The Butler County Sheriff's Office said it's investigating after its communications center systems were hacked. Sheriff Richard Jones said once they found the malware activity in the system, they started to investigate and restore operations and...
Upcoming Webinar
4.9 GHz Band: Review of the FCC Order
On October 22, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) released its Eighth Report and Order (Eighth R&O) regarding utilization of the 4940-4990 MHz (4.9 GHz) band that protects incumbent users as requested by us, the Public Safety Spectrum Alliance (PSSA). This Eighth R&O addresses a number of issues related to the use of this band by public safety. Please join us for a briefing on this order and how it impacts public safety.
This presentation will be led by Chief Jeff Johnson (ret) and Attorney Jason Karp, one of the nation’s leading experts in public safety spectrum regulations.
REGISTER
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