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Sept. 11: Public safety agencies recall day that united America 20 years ago (GA)
Almost every year on Sept. 11, local public safety agencies in Statesboro hold a commemoration of the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, whose repercussions are still being felt. This year the observance, hosted jointly by the Statesboro Fire Department and...
Rensselaer County dispatch loses power in storm (NY)
GENEVA (AP) — Rich countries with large supplies of coronavirus vaccines should refrain from offering booster shots through the end of the year and make the doses available for poorer countries, the head of the World Health Organization said Wednesday, doubling down...
“Hello, this is 911, what is your emergency?” (ID) ([Editorial]
I can’t say I remember it, but I had just celebrated my fifth birthday. My parents, like all others, gave me some presents. I’d wager that there was also a […]
Valdosta Public Safety Departments partner with VSU Social Media students (GA)
Share with friends Release: This semester, Valdosta State University students are getting hands-on experience working with the Valdosta Fire and Police to create a social media strategy plan for each department. Recognizing that organizations all over the world —...
Public Safety Advocate: Drones, FirstNet Data Interoperability, Computer-Aided-Dispatch, Muni-Wi-Fi Again?
Drones—Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) Concern is growing within the public-safety ranks about citizens flying drones over incidents that call for first responders. When incidents involve wildfires, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) usually declares no-fly...
NCCoE Releases Cybersecurity Guide for First Responders – Infosecurity Magazine
The National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released the final version of a Cybersecurity Practice Guide for first responders. The NIST Cybersecurity Practice Guide SP 1800-13, Mobile...
Transition underway for unified dispatch in Henry County (AL)
HEADLAND, Ala. (WTVY) - Henry County first responders are in the process of transitioning to a unified dispatch. The county’s E-911 director believes it’s a move in the right direction for the citizens. E-911 Director Chad Sowell says this is about providing the best...
911 Dispatcher Keith Thornton Jr., On Duty When Officer Ella French Was Killed, Shares The Many Lessons He’s Learned And The Powerful Connections He’s Made (IL)
CHICAGO (CBS) — Keith Thornton Jr. was the guiding voice during our city’s most recent line-of-duty tragedy – the murder of Chicago Police Officer Ella French. The Office of Emergency Management and Communications dispatcher was applauded for his decisive action over...
9/11 NYPD Dispatcher to Newsmax: Need Unity, Compassion Again (NY)
Candace Baker, a New York Police dispatcher on Sept. 11, 2001 who spent the whole day taking missing persons calls, tells Newsmax that Americans need to return to the sense of unity and compassion that united them in the days following the terrorist attacks...
Jasper County 9-1-1 emergency call center needs callers (MO)
JOPLIN, Mo. — More and more emergency dispatch centers are seeing “help wanted” signs. The Jasper County 9-1-1 call center has seen openings staying at three to four positions. The Joplin city dispatch currently has five positions unfilled. They’re just part of an...
EMS Dispatch (Nepal)
Emergency Medical Dispatch System Nepal Medics is working to open the first emergency medical dispatch center in the history of Nepal. Nepali citizens who have a medical emergency will be able call a toll-free three digit number that will connect them to our dispatch...
Terrorist acts prompt plans to improve communication | Local (MD)
The surreal nature of Sept. 11, 2001, for those living and working in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area at the time still lingers for many. Mike Grierson recalled working with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue in Rockville when he learned about the attacks in...
Alaska State Troopers say Fairbanks dispatch receiving high amount of accidental 911 calls
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - The Alaska State Troopers dispatch center in Fairbanks has been receiving an unusually high number of accidental 911 calls. According to Capt. Eric Spitzer with the Alaska State Troopers, the accidental calls use up needed resources for...
A 911 dispatcher’s worst nightmare, the heartbreaking call that changed her life (TN)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Michelle Collins knows about life and death. It’s her job. Collins is a 911 emergency response operator for the Memphis Police Department, and she handles scores of emergency calls every day. However, there was one call last May, answered by another...
Remembering 9/11 and how it changed public safety communications
By Harry Markley, Senior Law Enforcement Advisor, First Responder Network Authority Many of us know exactly where we were and what we were doing when the 9/11 attacks happened. I was commander of the SWAT team for the Phoenix Police Department, and the news came early...
Frederick County Awards EFJohnson Contract for New Public Safety Radio System (VA)
IRVING, Texas, Sept. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- EF Johnson Technologies, a leading solution provider of mission-critical communications technology for emergency responders, announced today that it has signed a $26.8 million contract with Frederick County, Virginia, to...
IU Health Lifeline works to improve EMS delivery advocating one dispatch center in Lawrence County (IN)
LAWRENCE CO. – IU Health Lifeline notified the Lawrence County 911 board that they will discontinue their 911 dispatch operations at their Bedford location beginning on October 1, 2021. According to an IU Health spokesperson, “IU Health’s intent is to hold to the...
The 24-Hour Watch – The Eyes and Ears Behind the Scenes of North Caroina Emergency Management
As part of the N.C. Department of Public Safety’s Division of Emergency Management, the 24-Hour Watch is housed in the State Emergency Operations Center in Raleigh. The Watch is an information and communication sharing hub for incident information and intelligence...
Broadband: $6 billion plan creates public safety gap (CA)
High-cables connected to a server. (Photo: Everything You Need, via Shutterstock) by CAROLYN McINTYRE posted 09.07.2021 With explosive wildfires once again raging across California, public safety must be paramount as legislators take final action on bills before...
Nampa Police names new community engagement coordinator (ID)
NAMPA — The Nampa Police Department on Tuesday named Carmen Boeger community engagement coordinator, a new position within the department. Boeger, a longtime employee and current manager of Nampa's dispatch center, will be responsible for relaying information to the...
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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