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Emergency dispatchers serve as ‘first, first-responders’ | Government (NY)
WATERTOWN — Prior to going into the Jefferson County Dispatch Center and being the “first, first-responders,” six remarkable women hold a briefing every day to discuss any major events that had happened during the previous shift. The main topic of conversation on Feb....
Bosque County woman facing 911 abuse charges, calls dispatch over 50 times (TX)
WACO, Texas (KWTX) - A Bosque County woman has been arrested after calling over 50 times Bosque County Dispatch in non-emergencies calls. Bridget Nicole Beard made the calls March 19 to dispatch and would not speak when asked if there was an emergency. Bosque County...
State grant funding could help bolster 911 systems throughout Mohave County (AZ)
Law enforcement agencies throughout Mohave County could get more than a half-million dollars in upgrades this year, with the help of state grant funding. The Mohave County Board of Supervisors is scheduled today to vote on a modified 911 operations budget for the 2022...
New texting service improves 911 dispatchers’ connection to callers (OH)
A person calling 911 during an emergency may be too excited and may not be clear when talking to a dispatcher about where to send help. Or they may just need some reassurance that help is on the way. Recently, the Warren County Communications Center launched a text...
Madison County 911 in need of more dispatchers (AL)
MADISON CO., Ala. (WAFF) - We know it’s been a struggle for many businesses to build back employees as we’re moving out of the pandemic, but for some professions, the need is more critical than others. The Madison County 911 center has been working to hire more...
Push continues for 911 operators in Milwaukee as application deadline looms (WI)
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- During the pandemic we've seen many industries put out a call for more workers. Few are as urgent as the need for more 911 operators right here in Milwaukee. Better efficiency, and some stress relieved. This is what the future looks like inside...
Dorchester County to use $935,000 in ARP funds to revamp 911 dispatch system (SC)
DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - By September 2022, people living in Dorchester County could start reaping the benefits from an upgrade in the county’s computer aided dispatch program, known as CAD. County officials said this investment of nearly $1,000,000 in federal...
Albuquerque leaders address frustrations about 911 call wait times (NM)
That was the case for a local woman during that shooting spree earlier this week in the Foothills. One woman said everything was actually unfolding near her home. She picked up the phone, tried 911 and 242-COPS, but no luck. “I was calling 911, unfortunately, there...
911 center upgrades cut response times, improve location accuracy in Durango (CO)
Some police officers are able to work full careers without ever having to unholster their service weapons on a call, says Derrick Walker, director with the 911 dispatch center in Durango. But not one day goes by that any of them could have done their jobs without...
County works toward upgrading 911 system (NE)
HARTINGTON — Cedar County’s 911 system will be getting a major upgrade later this fall. The county is preparing for what’s known as Next Generation 911 - new technology that allows the public to share videos, images and text messages with 911 call centers. The new...
New texting service improves 911 dispatchers’ connection to callers (OH)
The Warren County Communications Center recently added texting software to help reassure callers to 911 that help is on the way. “After we looked into it and had a demonstration, we thought this would work great here as well,” she said. Warren County implemented the...
Emergency resources are just an app away despite spotty reception in Piscataquis County (ME)
The Piscataquis County Emergency Management Agency wants to see more residents use an app it launched less than a year ago for alerts and emergency planning — even though it remains difficult for some to access it. Last month, Piscataquis County Commissions decided to...
West Central Dispatch Joins Elite Group (IL)
The West Central Illinois Joint Dispatch has earned national recognition for being one of the best of the best. West Central Joint ETSB 911 has been recognized by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch® (IAEDTM) as an Accredited Center of Excellence, or...
Metro-Richmond area facing shortage of 911 operators (VA)
RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) - The City of Richmond, Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover Counties all say they are in need of 911 operators. “This is a way if you don’t want to be on the frontlines to really be that first, first responder,” said Rebekah Taylor, Henrico Police...
Man charged in RCMP investigation into hundreds of non-emergency 911 calls (Canada)
From last November through this month, hundreds of calls were made to Saskatchewan’s 911 dispatch centre, all made from an unregistered cell phone. RCMP say the caller didn’t identify themselves, nor did they indicate any emergency. A news release from the...
Unsung heroes (WY)
To the Editor:Can we take a minute to talk about some of our most unsung heroes in our county? I’m referring to our dispatchers, the people who answer our calls when we are having an emergency.
It’s important for our citizens to know how often these people are forgotten as some of our most important heroes in our community. When we call them, it doesn’t matter which town we are from, whether we are in the city or the county. What matters to them is getting us the help we need, as quickly and efficiently as they can. They are our fist line of defense in every situation that comes to them. They have to make the decision of who needs to be notified and sent our way. They have to know what to tell us to do in any emergency that we call them with, how to administer first aid, how to perform CPR, the safest measures to take when there’s been an accident, etc. They must keep us as calm as possible, often in situations that seem like the worst moments of our lives.
Most importantly they are doing all of these things simultaneously. While they are dealing with us they are also monitoring our rescuers’ safety, locations and providing quickest route details. In most cases they don’t ever know the outcome of any given situation. When we hang up with them, we often forget that they have just experienced our trauma with us, but they have to be ready to answer the next call when it comes in. Can most of us imagine what the weight of that might feel like?
After saying all of this, I’m wondering if our two governing bodies, the city council and county commissioners, have given this any thought?
We’ve all heard about communication equipment and whether we should or shouldn’t pay for it. We’ve all heard about the possibility of a joint powers board and should we have one or not. We’ve heard discussion of the possibility of splitting the dispatch center into two different centers.
Have these two governing entities ever talked to the people who matter significantly here? Again, referring to the dispatchers who are doing this extremely difficult job. Are they asking for their input on what they might need, to do their jobs most efficiently? Were any of them ever asked to be on a joint powers board? Have they been asked if they want to split the dispatch center? Have they been asked for any input at all?
Are these governing agencies choosing to make all of these decisions, that affect the public’s safety, without talking to the people who actually do the job?
I believe every city council member and county commissioner should be required to spend a 12-hour shift in the dispatch center watching what these people do to keep us safe. When they do, they should pray that it’s not one of the “bad days” because they might leave there a little scarred. Maybe if we require this of them before they make these important decisions they will realize that these are not just glorified receptionists we are talking about.
These forgotten heroes the dispatchers are in fact the oil and fuel that keeps the rest of the machine running!
Incentives part of plan to attract, retain 911 dispatchers amid high turnover (GA)
“I was a trainer, and I always told my trainees the calls aren’t personal, they don’t affect you,” she said. “Yes, you’re empathetic, but at the end of the day that was their fight. That was their car accident. It didn’t affect me personally. Well, then it did.” Each...
In far-west Moffat, more than 300 hope, work for reliable EMS (CO)
Understanding how EMS works in Dinosaur — and what that unique community needs — is an essential part of the conversation to determine the future of EMS. But it is definitely a complex piece of the overall puzzle. One issue that increases the response times, explained...
County renews 9-1-1 surcharge (MI)
The $2.09 surcharge per communication service providers for Mason-Oceana County Dispatch Center 9-1-1 services was renewed by the Oceana County Board of Commissioners March 10. The surcharge applies to all communication devices capable of calling 9-1-1. It was first...
Montana State Library Partners with 1Spatial to Modernize Montana’s 911 System
Whenever a Montanan needs to call 9-1-1, the only concern is getting help and getting it fast. Data about the caller is the backbone for a quick and accurate response. What’s their location and who needs to respond? Throughout the country, state 9-1-1 programs are...
Reauthorization SurveyMORE>
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.
PETITIONSMORE>
Congress should reauthorize the FirstNet Authority now.
Support the reauthorization of the FirstNet Authority to preserve public safety’s network
PSBTA UpdatesMORE>
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.
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Public Sector GrantsMORE>
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.
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