A language barrier can be difficult in any circumstances, but when first-responders and those they’re trying to help can’t understand one another, the hurdle can be life-threatening. Last week, the Smyth County Board of Supervisors took action to ease communication...

DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) – Almost half of the 911 operator positions in Durham are vacant, according to data on the city of Durham’s website. There are currently 28 vacancies out of 60 call taker positions, according to the website. One year ago when CBS 17 first started...

While law enforcement officers and fire & EMS crews are out on the front lines responding to emergencies, the unsung heroes of the 911 dispatch team are operating behind closed doors, cooped up in a small room in the basement of the Gordon building on West Main...

Habersham citizens have shared their frustrations and concerns with slow response times from the county’s emergency services online, and citizens brought those concerns forward at Tuesday night’s public safety town hall meeting. At Habersham County Commissioner Bruce...

With $3.4 million in federal funding provided through the American Rescue Plan, Norwich City Council gave the green light for a series of substantial upgrades to the city’s antiquated emergency dispatch system. “We have known for a decade, maybe longer, that our...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ) Jefferson City's Public Safety Committee unanimously voted Thursday morning to move forward with hiring incentives for police officers and communications operators. The proposal will now go to the city council for approval. If approved, the...

The Sumner County Commission approved the expenditure of almost $2.9 million from American Rescue Plan funds for COVID-19 hazard pay for first responders in the county. At its Dec. 13 meeting, commissioners allocated $2,892,350 for bonus pay for the county EMS,...

A 21-year-old Chaglin Valley dispatcher said on a phone call that helped the unconscious woman get her pulse back, giving all the glory to the stranger. Chaglin Falls, Ohio — A Chagrin Valley Dispatcher After helping to save a woman’s life on the phone, she is greeted...

TAVARES — Lake County and the Office of Public Safety Support have been approved for re-accreditation as an Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) for emergency dispatching. The re-accreditation is awarded by the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED) and...

TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - Door dash driver Ryan Menehune’s call to 911 after a customer threatened to shoot him fell well outside the goal to answer emergency calls. “I started making my exit around the corner to where I had parked. And that’s when I heard him...

The Dora Volunteer Fire Department recently warned residents who live within their fire territory in Douglas County that their new 911 service has caused some confusion during recent emergency situations.  “…Douglas County initiated a partial 911 emergency line. While...

ALBANY COUNTY , NY (WRGB) — Albany County has added three new dispatcher positions at its 911 center to combat a growing number of calls as other dispatch centers struggle with a shrinking workforce. “What’s happening is that people are dialing 911 and the phone...

Seeking to contain the costs of its largest infrastructure project — a new public safety building in the California Avenue business district — Palo Alto has charged its city auditor with examining every change order and invoice associated with the new structure. And...

A growing call load coupled with lagging recruitment could be a recipe for disaster for Wisconsin fire and emergency medical service agencies, according to a study conducted by the Wisconsin Policy Forum.  "Unless they are appropriately...

Garland County recently announced the latest promotions within the Garland County Communications Center. "These promotions are the result of independent emergency communications testing, as well as a series of independent and internal interviews, conducted earlier in...

Midlothian’s 9-1-1 operators recently began using medical dispatch protocols designed to provide immediate response to callers’ needs and at the same time dispatch emergency personnel without delay. While previous procedures limited dispatchers to obtaining the...

The St. Joseph Police Department needs communications operators, and officials are looking for applicants. Capt. John Olszowka recently took over the command center at the police department. They field calls for the police, fire, EMS and sheriff's departments....

MUNCIE, Ind. — A new 911 director has been hired for Delaware County. Bernard "Fred" Cummings will oversee the Delaware County Emergency Communications Center when he arrives in Muncie to take the position in mid-January. He has been serving as a PSAP (public safety...