The Revere City Council unanimously approved an intermunicipal agreement allowing Chelsea to join Revere and Winthrop in the Metro North Regional Emergency Communications Center (MNRECC). Since the MNRECC began 15 years ago, Revere Mayor Patrick Keefe said the goal...

The Cobb County Department of Emergency Communications team has made yet another monumental achievement, being named an Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) for the use of its Emergency Medical Dispatch protocol by The International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED).With this achievement, Cobb County DEC becomes the 351st Medical ACE in the world. This recognition comes just months after the Cobb County DEC team became the 33rd Police ACE in the world.

The IAED’s ACE credential represents the highest distinction for emergency communication centers, certifying that they meet or exceed global standards for best practices in emergency response.

“Earning ACE status is no small feat,” said DEC Director Melissa Alterio. “It means that our center meets the highest standards of emergency medical dispatch, ensuring that every call we handle is done with precision, professionalism, and lifesaving care.” 

The road to ACE status was a collaborative effort of the DEC’s Training and Quality Assurance Unit and Operations Division. The entire team played a vital role in achieving this milestone. Their collective efforts exemplify the DEC team’s commitment to excellence.

Reflecting on the impact of this milestone, Director Alterio stated, “This achievement is not just a badge of honor- it is a testament to who we are as a team and as public safety professionals. It instills pride in our department, our profession, and our team, proving once again that Cobb County 911 is a leader in emergency communications.”

Achieving ACE status required the DEC to meet IAED’s 20 Points of Accreditation, including strong local oversight, a rigorous quality assurance process, and a commitment to data-driven continuous improvement. The IAED’s Priority Dispatch System is recognized as the standard of care and practice for emergency dispatch and is used in over 3,500 emergency communications centers across 46 countries.

Cobb County DEC will be recognized at the 2025 Navigator Conference in Orlando, Florida, and will receive an accreditation plaque commemorating their achievement.

KINGSTON, N.Y. — The Ulster County Department of Emergency Services has launched a therapy dog program to support public safety telecommunicators in the Division of Emergency Communications (911), county officials announced on Monday. This initiative marks the first...

The Department of Public Safety is looking for input on a new report that suggests major changes to how Vermont handles emergency dispatch calls. Lawmakers created the Public Safety Communications Task Force in 2023 to take a hard look at the state’s dispatch calling...

A 911 dispatcher told James Boone that police would respond after he expressed fear about his troubled adult son, who had stopped taking medication for mental illness. “Ma’am, he’s threatening me,” the father said. “Will you hurry up?” An hour later, police had yet to...

A California Highway Patrol dispatcher allegedly used a law enforcement database to find a prison inmate's personal ID information — using it to fraudulently obtain COVID jobless benefits as part of a larger $3.3 million fraud scheme involving four other people,...

A 911 dispatcher was credited with de-escalating a situation involving an armed man on March 1. Jennifer Hawkins received the Distinguished Service Award from Sheriff Mike Allen after successfully talking an armed man into surrendering to deputies. READ FULL...

A bill heading to the Illinois House floor could require all 9-1-1 dispatchers to be trained on telecommunicator CPR.  Rep. Lisa Davis (D-Chicago) said Thursday that instructions and guidance from dispatchers could mean the difference between life and death for...

Denver's public safety agency is pushing to roughly double the fee for 911 emergency services, arguing it's necessary to keep operations afloat and meet response time requirements.  The proposed fee hike — from $1.20 to $2.12 per month —  would apply to...

 GREAT FALLS, Montana – The Great Falls/Cascade County Emergency Communications Center is hosting a hiring event to address a critical staffing shortage. The event, designed to fast track applicants, offers a unique opportunity for those interested in becoming 911...

Hours of overtime are leading to low morale among Brown County Dispatch employees. Dispatcher Kirk Parker said fluctuating schedules are unsustainable. “The majority to stay later in the day than originally agreed upon, affecting home life, medical appointments, court...

Text of the bill—S.725, the “Enhancing First Response Act”—was not available on www.congress.gov at the time of this posting, but a press release posted on Klobuchar’s website states the bill would update the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) of 911...

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — In recent months, the Utah Communications Authority and L3Harris Technologies rolled out a new communications system in Utah for use by first responders across the state; however, it hasn’t been a seamless transition for some agencies.

Hunter began her career in 1985, when the police station was still housed in the historic Carnegie Library building on Broadway. At the time, the department’s communication system was rudimentary compared to today’s standards, relying on a push-button 911 phone...

BROWN COUNTY - To get emergency services to county residents faster, Brown County Public Safety Communications has created a system for citizens to upload important personal and residential information for emergency responders in the case of a 911 call. When people...

BRODHEAD — The City of Brodhead is pleased to announce that it has been awarded $72,295 from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Innovation Planning Grant to conduct a feasibility study on consolidating emergency dispatch services from the Brodhead Police Department,...

Running at half of its recommended staff size for nearly three years, the Routt County Emergency Communications Center still beats the national average in 911 response time — a testament to the talent and efficiency of its dispatchers, said Communications Manager Jim...

WASHINGTON – Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the Enhancing First Response Act, which would make important updates to our 9-1-1 emergency reporting system to ensure Americans can reach help when they dial 9-1-1 during natural...

Logan Spencer was a former YMCA employee and Roanoke Co. Emergency Dispatcher According to a Roanoke County spokesperson Spencer was employed as dispatcher in Roanoke County’s Emergency Communications Center. He has been placed on administrative leave, pending the...