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REPORT: Judge Sentences Man To Three Years In Prison For Calling Police Dispatch Over 75 Times In A Day (WI)
A Wisconsin man was sentenced Wednesday to three years in prison for making more than 75 phone calls to a police dispatch over a day this past summer, according to local reports. Dodge County Circuit Judge Martin De Vries sentenced John Cowen to three years of prison...
Austin on track to double number of 911 calls diverted for mental health response in 2022 (TX)
Thousands of 911 calls related to mental health incidents were diverted away from a law enforcement response in Austin last year, and officials say that amount could more than double in 2022. In Austin, those calling 911 are met with the standard police, fire and EMS...
Penn Yan Woman Accused of Calling 9-1-1 Multiple Times With No Emergency (NY)
A Penn Yan woman faces a number of charges after police say she made multiple phone calls to 9-1-1 for no legitimate purpose. 50-year-old Shantel Champlin was warned by police to stop calling if there was no emergency or she would be placed under arrest. Police say...
Washington County communications team honored (NY)
FORT EDWARD — The Washington County Board of Supervisors recognized the county’s 911 communications team Friday with a proclamation honoring National Public Safety Communicators Week, April 1-16. The proclamation called public safety communicators “the first and most...
Sidney still waiting on official word on 911 cost downloading (Canada)
Sidney is still waiting for official confirmation that the province has deferred downloading the costs related to police dispatching. A provincial official earlier this spring told North Cowichan that senior spheres have found funding for RCMP E-Comm 911 dispatch....
An alarming trend: False alarms afflict responders (MD)
A series of fire alarms dragged Hillsboro firefighters to Container Services earlier this month only to find that Container Services was not having a burst of arson but rather issues with its alarm system, which that caused repeated automatic notifications. Faulty...
NGA Partners With NextNav to Bring Vertical Location to the NG9-1-1 Community – Yahoo Finance
MCLEAN, Va. and BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., April 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NGA 911, LLC (NGA), the source for complete, customizable and reliable NG9-1-1 solutions, today partnered with NextNav, a leader in next generation GPS, to provide actionable vertical location...
Helotes 9-1-1 needs emergency assistance to keep its dispatch center alive (TX)
SAN ANTONIO - Staffing the 9-1-1 Dispatch Center in Helotes has become a major concern for Mayor Rich Whitehead. Bexar County could be the solution to the problem. "Our call volume for Helotes and Grey Forest only accounts for about 30 percent of capacity," Whitehead...
DISA to Update Military Emergency Communications System
The Defense Information Systems Agency has crafted a strategy to help the Department of Defense implement an emergency response system for military personnel to communicate with 9-1-1 call centers via text message and video or voice calls. DISA said Monday it will...
The first in the first responders (VA)
National Public Safety Communications Week was recently celebrated at the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. Pictured in the communications center as Telecommunication Officer Linda Vaughan (seated) takes a call are from l-r, Telecommunications Manager Jason Newman,...
Local 911 Dispatcher Recognized for Assisting Birth Over the Phone (NM)
Emergency 911 dispatcher Robbie Trujillo was recognized for his exemplary service of assisting a childbirth over the phone during the meeting the E911 board April 12. “It’s really exciting. 911 dispatchers don’t get a lot recognition, we work 60 hour weeks,” Trujillo...
9-1-1 services in across Montana impacted by nation wide service outage
BOZEMAN, Mont. - Several dispatch centers in Montana are reporting they are experiencing issues receiving 9-1-1 calls from some carriers. A release from the City of Billings says the outage is impacting cell phones and landlines differently across the nation. If you...
If Verizon Outage in Wyoming Prevents You From Calling 911, You Can Text It
A Verizon outage has left many residents of Casper and beyond without the means to make phone calls. But what about those who are having an emergency? Natrona County Emergency Management has put out a social media post, stating that if people are experiencing an...
Public Safety Advocate: FirstNet (Built with AT&T) Announces More Communications Tools
At IWCE 2022, FirstNet announced a new, significant upgrade to FirstNet (Built with AT&T) that prompted me to write about communications tools for first responders. One of these tools is actually an upgrade to the network that many of us have been expecting for a...
Police, Republicans, Even a Democrat Pile On Biden FCC Pick
President Joe Biden’s nominee for the Federal Communications Commission is drawing opposition from an unusual array of foes, including a police group, a North Dakota Democrat and former Republican aides working to stymie the president’s agenda. Gigi Sohn, who would...
Volunteer firefighters get update on new CAD system (WV)
County volunteer firefighters received an update on the new CAD system from Lewis/Gilmer E-911 Center Director Jim Gum and Assistant Director Keith Talbert at the LC Firefighters Association meeting on April 18 at Pricetown VFD. Plans to purchase a new CAD system were...
Middlesex County forges forward with regional strategy as Edison Township is added to its emergency radio system (NJ)
MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ – In keeping with an ongoing strategy to offer regional solutions, Middlesex County and the Township of Edison are pleased to announce the addition of Edison to its emergency radio system. Participating in this County-wide service will save...
Dorchester County passes public safety strategic plan (SC)
DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Dorchester County Council on Monday passed a strategic plan to improve safety in the community. Over the next three years, seven county departments will work together to advance safety programs and improve outcomes in key areas....
Recognizing Grand Canyon Regional Communication Center for National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (AZ)
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — In honor of National Public Safety Telecommunicators week, Grand Canyon Regional Communication Center was recognized by Grand Canyon National Park last week. GCRCC is the primary 9-1-1 public safety answering point and dispatch operation for...
Fort police dispatcher Ebert retires after 35 years of service (WI)
On Sue Ebert’s last day of duty, Feb. 2, 2022, the Fort Atkinson Police Department held a celebratory sendoff for her. “They did a special tribute to me on the radio,” Ebert recalled. “They had squad cars and firetrucks lined up for me.” She said that some people...
UPCOMING EVENTREGISTER>
The Inaugural Howard C. Liebengood Foundation Symposium: The Evolving Law Enforcement Landscape & the First Responder Mental Health Crisis
Wednesday, September 30 to Thursday, October 1, 2026
Law enforcement is operating in one of the most demanding environments in modern history. Shifting public expectations, critical incidents, and ongoing organizational pressures have reshaped the profession, and the impact on officer health and agency stability has never been greater. This inaugural symposium convenes law enforcement leaders, mental health and health care experts, researchers, and bipartisan policymakers to explore practical, evidence-informed solutions. Grounded in research and lived experience, this symposium focuses on translating knowledge into action.
Over two days, participants will examine the evolving policing landscape, confront the profession’s mental health crisis—including elevated rates of suicide, PTSD, depression, and anxiety—and identify strategies to strengthen resilience, crisis response, and organizational leadership.
SURVEY
PSBTA Releases Survey on First Responder Support for FirstNet Reauthorization
New Survey: First Responders Overwhelmingly Support Reauthorization of FirstNet
A new bipartisan national survey commissioned by the Public Safety Broadband Technology Association finds near- unanimous support among first responders for reauthorizing the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority)– the agency overseeing America’s dedicated public safety broadband network.
PETITIONS
Congress should reauthorize the FirstNet Authority now.
Support the reauthorization of the FirstNet Authority to preserve public safety’s network
PSBTA UPDATES
Podcast
FirstNet and the 4.9 GHz Spectrum
This episode dives into the critical evolution of public safety communications, focusing on the recent FCC decision to establish a nationwide Band Manager framework for the 4.9 GHz spectrum, and discuss the evolution and deployment of the FirstNet System. Host Chris Tubbs interviews Chief Jeff Johnson, a leader in public safety technology and the development of FirstNet. Together, they explore the history, governance, and transformative potential of FirstNet and the 4.9 GHz spectrum in enhancing public safety operations with emerging technologies like AI, 5G, and augmented reality. The discussion emphasizes the importance of protecting and optimizing public safety spectrum, the lessons learned from past advocacy efforts, and a call to action for public safety leaders to remain engaged in ensuring the spectrum’s effective use and governance.
LISTEN TO PODCAST
GRANTS
Webinar
Accessing Federal Resources When an Emergency or Major Disaster Strikes
In light of the major disasters that our nation has recently experienced, PS Grants is offering this FREE webinar to review Disaster Assistance Programs and how to access them. Learn what federal funds and resources are available through Disaster Assistance, understand the process of requesting assistance, know what to expect before, during, and after, and find out who to contact for help.
REGISTER
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