Comm Center News
10 Lehigh County 911 center workers lose jobs after alleged New Year’s Eve drinking incident
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - Ten Lehigh County 911 dispatchers, including some supervisors, have lost their jobs after drinking on the job. The alleged incident happened on New Year's Eve in the county's communications center in downtown Allentown. According to multiple sources,...
California Dispatchers Recognized as First Responders in New Legislation
California Dispatchers Recognized as First Responders in New Legislation
Thursday, January 23, 2020 (0 Comments)Posted by: Chris NussmanFrom the office of California Assemblymember Rudy Salas:
Today, Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield) joined a group of public safety dispatchers from across the state for a press conference to celebrate Assembly Bill 1945 (AB 1945), which would recognize the brave work of public safety dispatchers by classifying them as first responders. Currently, the Federal government describes dispatchers as an “administrative” occupation. This classification does not accurately describe the work of dispatchers who undergo extensive training and whose work can mean the difference between life and death. The idea for this bill was brought to Assemblymember Salas by a local dispatcher from Kings County, Maribel Stinson, who emailed him directly suggesting the potential legislation.
“It is an honor to officially recognize the incredible work of our public safety dispatchers,” said Assemblymember Salas. “Dispatchers are vital to keeping our communities safe. When a hostage taker or a suicidal person calls 9-1-1, the first individual they speak with is often a dispatcher whose negotiation skills can save lives. I want to thank Ms. Stinson for contacting me with this idea. Her life-saving in the community was the start of AB 1945, which ensure that brave women and men who are working as dispatchers are properly acknowledged for their work.”
Public safety dispatchers or public safety telecommunicators play a vital role in emergency response. They routinely communicate with individuals in great distress, harm, fear, or injury, including during active shooter situations. Dispatchers are trained to coach callers through first aid, collect vital information for officers, and negotiate in a variety of hostile situations.
“I congratulate Assemblymember Rudy Salas for his introduction of important legislation that would rightfully designate 9-1-1 dispatchers as first responders,” said Brian Fontes, CEO of the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). “For too long, federal and state agencies have categorized the work of 9-1-1 professionals as administrative or clerical in nature, which is inaccurate and a disservice to the specialized, lifesaving work done by dispatchers every day.”
Assemblymember Salas was joined at today’s press conference by Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez, a principal coauthor of the bill and former EMT, as well as dispatchers from the Central Valley, Monterey County, the Bay Area, Sacramento, and Sonoma County. In addition, Allena Wiggins, President of the Northern California Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (NAPCO) and Lee Ann Magoski, President of the California National Emergency Number Association (CALNENA), attended in support of AB 1945.
There are currently over 6,000 dispatchers employed in California who responded to over 27 million 9-1-1 calls in 2018 alone. Additionally, these dispatchers responded to 28,014 emergency text messages which is up 10,000 from 2017.
Reno Co. 911 takes 100 calls in 10 minutes after earthquake, asks public to call for emergencies (KS)
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (KSNW) – Seconds after an earthquake shook Hutchinson on Sunday, phones at the Reno County 911 center started ringing off the hook. Jessica Lynch, Director of Reno County Emergency Communications Center, says she always wants people to call 911 if...
McDowell set to join new statewide network for 911 (NC)
Through a new initiative, McDowell County will soon join a statewide network intended to improve access to 911 services. The North Carolina 911 Board is providing residents with technological improvements to 911 communications across the state through the Next...
Summit County Sheriff Introduces Next Generation 911 (UT)
Beginning last week, the Summit County Sheriff’s Office inaugurated a feature that allows citizens a new way to call for help on “911.” The Department says their slogan now is “Call if you can; Text if you can’t.” Summit County’s Public Safety Communications...
Fee increase proposed to support 9-1-1 services (TN)
A new law could provide Cumberland County more revenue to update its emergency communications capabilities and provide better wages to recruit and retain the emergency dispatchers who man the E-911 system. “The change for the consumer is 34 cents, but it would be a...
RapidDeploy’s New Native Mobile Applications Ring in New Era for First Responders
In every part of our lives, we have access to real-time data at our fingertips, but once we put on our uniforms it seems like we go back in time and fly blind, depending on audio from a PSAP far removed from the action. RapidDeploy’s mission is to reduce emergency response times and increase responder safety by improving situational awareness.
Chesterfield administrators now are using mobile app to alert first-responders to school emergencies (VA)
School administrators in Chesterfield County have begun using an app that summons emergency officials with the push of a button. The Rave Panic Button smartphone application, which went live on the day county students returned from their winter holiday break, allows...
Public Safety Advocate: Radio Interference and the Network Below Other Networks
This week’s Advocate is a little late due to an out-of-office work commitment. Meanwhile, many activities that will impact public-safety communications in 2020 continue. One issue we…
I-Team: Three people paid to take your 911 calls taken off job due to criminal records (OH)
CUYAHOGA COUNTY, Ohio (WJW )- The FOX 8 I-Team has found some people paid to take your 911 calls have been taken off the job due to their criminal records, and no one noticed they had been working around police computers. Three call-takers from the Cuyahoga County...
“Integrity. Service. Purrr-ide” ISP introduces therapy cats (IL)
ILLINOIS (KFVS) - Illinois State Police introduced the Feline Division on social media Tuesday, Jan. 14. DUIE (pronounced Dewey) and his sister DISPO came to Springfield Communications Center at just seven weeks old. The furry companions have become therapy cats,...
MUSCOM implements new dispatch system, starts hands-on training (IA)
MUSCATINE, Iowa (KWQC) - The City of Muscatine is announcing a new medical protocol system has now been implemented by the Muscatine County Joint Communications Center, which will enable dispatchers to accurately assess each emergency situation and send the best...
DILG exec lauds Legazpi City’s 911 command center (Phillipines)
LEGAZPI CITY -- Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Operation Epimaco Densing III on Friday lauded the set-up of all closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and other response equipment of the Legazpi City 911 Command...
AT&T Completes 1,000 Network Upgrades in Miami Market
AT&T is ringing in the new year with the completion of more than 2,500 upgrades to its Florida wireless network in 2019 – including nearly 1,000 in Monroe, Miami-Dade and Broward counties. The upgrades in Monroe, Miami-Dade and Broward counties include: More than...
Ambulance District board approves purchase of new unit (MO)
Members of the Barry-Lawrence County Ambulance District board have approved the purchase of a 2020 Braun ambulance, with an expected arrival in 180 days. The new unit, which cost $195,093, has been ordered from Pinnacle Emergency Vehicles, which also won the bid for...
Contract versus hometown policing (MI)
Fenton — Most municipalities in Genesee County have their own police department. Fenton Township is the only community locally that contracts with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, and there are benefits and disadvantages to both. The Genesee County Sheriff’s...
Major upgrades coming to Marathon County dispatch center (WI)
WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) -- The Marathon County 911 dispatch center is adding four new positions to increase their total number of dispatchers to twelve. A number of other technical upgrades include the transition to 911 Next Generation and the addition of a radio console...
Raleigh 911 Operators to Receive Training at Public Safety Education Campus (NC)
RALEIGH, N.C. (January 16, 2019) - 911 operators who work for the City of Raleigh are now receiving training at Wake Tech's Public Safety Education Campus. The 480-hour training program will be taught in two 12-week courses from January until April. The...
Why doesn’t Israel have emergency dispatchers? (Isreal)
There have been several laws unsuccessfully proposed to found a single, unified rescue body; many argue that it could have rescued the young couple who drowned in a stuck elevator on January 4. After two people drowned in a flooded elevator during a disastrous storm...
Fire forces ambulance dispatchers to evacuate (Canada)
Frontenac Paramedics assisted their Kingston Central Ambulance Communications Centre dispatchers alongside Kingston Fire and Rescue after a fire was discovered in the garage of their building early Thursday morning. The dispatchers and the rest of the occupants of...
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.
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