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New tool uses smartphone GPS to find 911 callers in N.W.T. (Canada)
A new tool to help 911 dispatchers has already helped save a life in the Northwest Territories. RapidSOS is a data platform that helps first responders locate callers by tracking the GPS on their smartphones. The 911 division in the N.W.T. government started using...
New Communications Centre Completed In Raymond Terrace (Australia)
COMMUNICATION is vital, especially during natural disaster incidents. For Port Stephens there is an ongoing collaboration of agencies where Marine Rescue assists the Rural Fire Service with radio communications playing a major role during bushfire events. The Public...
Apple Watches, phones accidentally dialing up trouble for dispatch (MI)
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Don’t bump the buttons: That’s the message from emergency dispatchers across the country as they deal with a large number of accidental calls to 911 from Apple products. “You’re having people, I’m assuming, that are just double tapping...
Westfield City Council Legislation and Ordinance Committee moves regional dispatch (MA)
WESTFIELD and SOUTHWICK – The Westfield City Council Legislation and Ordinance Committee (L&O) June 9 discussed the proposed plan to implement a regional dispatch center for Westfield and Southwick. After the IMA is approved by both the City Council and the Select...
I-Team exposes more breakdowns in Cleveland’s 911 system (OH)
CLEVELAND (WJW) — The FOX 8 I-Team has found phone lines went down Wednesday morning in the Cleveland 911 center. VIDEO: Trooper injured following violent struggle with armed suspect on side of I-71 And, around the same time, technical issues also hit the Cuyahoga...
Public Safety Advocate: Is Your Agency Using FirstNet? If Not, Why Not?
Since the build-out of the FirstNet network began, many federal, state, and local public-safety agencies have become part of the growing number of entities using this Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN). According to the latest FirstNet (Built with...
Georgia Dispatcher Hears 911 Call for Crash That Killed Son
Curney a dispatcher for Grady EMS told Jones she heard a call about an accident while at work and didn’t think much of it. “But when my grandmother called me I immediately knew that it was my baby, Curney said. The chain of events began when the driver of a white car,...
Philadelphia Selects NICE Inform Elite for New 911 Center to Ensure Highest Levels of Service to Public and First Responders (PA)
NICE (Nasdaq: NICE) today announced that the City of Philadelphia, the sixth largest city in the U.S., has selected NICE Inform Elite to enhance emergency communications for its new 911 center slated to open in 2022. NICE’s next-generation 911-ready technology will...
Albany County Launches ACCORD Pilot Program To Modernize Dispatch Response For Mental Health Crises (NY)
The newly created Albany County Crisis Officials Responding and Diverting (ACCORD) program designed to improve outcomes for nonviolent emergency calls into County dispatch is rolling out Friday as a pilot program in the Hilltowns. The initiative is a multi-agency...
Stay on the line if you accidentally call 911, says local law enforcement (MO)
RALLS COUNTY, Mo. (WGEM) -- Have you ever accidentally called 911? If it happens to you, authorities in the Tri-States are asking you to just stay on the line. Ralls County Sheriff Brad Stinson said they've seen a lot of 911 hang up calls in recent weeks. He said if...
Three Weld County dispatchers awarded for life-saving work (CO)
The Weld County’s Department of Public Safety Communications honored three dispatchers from the Weld County Regional Communications Center for their heroic efforts in saving two lives and helping bring a baby safely into the world. A Weld County Board of Commissioners...
Aventura Police Department’s 9-1-1…the front line behind the phones (FL)
Did you know the Aventura Police Department’s 9-1-1 Communications Section is 1 of 7 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) in Miami-Dade County? In 2020, the Aventura Police Department’s team of 14 Police Communications Officers (PCO) processed over 90,000 phone...
URI names Police Maj. Michael Jagoda new director of public safety/chief of police (RI)
KINGSTON, R.I. — June 14, 2021 — The University of Rhode Island has named University Police Maj. Michael A. Jagoda director of public safety and chief of police effective June 19. In his new role, Jagoda will oversee the following units and offices: Alarm Division,...
E-911 working on initiatives, surveys (TN)
Cumberland County E-911 is working to improve services to the community, with plans in place for a mobile communications unit, a backup communications center, and an updated website. “The tornado in Cookeville in March 2020 took their 911 center offline,” said Terry...
Securing The Next Generation Of 911
While conducting research for my 2021 Wisconsin Public Safety Commission (WIPSCOM) conference presentation, it became immediately clear that securing the nation’s public safety answering points (PSAPs) is no longer just an IT challenge.Shifting from an analog to...
Text to 911 for Emergency Assistance (OH)
Texting, in recent years, has become one of the most valuable forms of communication among modern day technology—even among emergency response teams. While calling 911 is efficient, certain situations might need a texting feature for ultimate safety. Franklin County’s...
Accidental 911 calls add stress to emergency dispatch centers (OK)
Oklahoma 911 call centers are experiencing a large amount of accidental 911 calls due to safety features available on mobile devices including iPhones and Apple watches. According to the Oklahoma 911 Management Authority and the State 911 Coordinator, 12 percent of...
Chautauqua County to Receive Over $165000 in State Aid for Emergency Services (NY)
Chautauqua County has been awarded $165,857 from New York State to make improvements to its 911 response and emergency dispatch operations. The funding, administered by the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, is part of a $10 million grant...
Aventura Police Department’s 9-1-1…the front line behind the phones (FL)
Did you know the Aventura Police Department’s 9-1-1 Communications Section is 1 of 7 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP) in Miami-Dade County? In 2020, the Aventura Police Department’s team of 14 Police Communications Officers (PCO) processed over 90,000 phone...
New 911 dispatcher helps couple deliver baby on Utah highway (UT)
SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah couple welcomed their fourth child into the world on the side of Interstate 15, coached through delivery problems by a 911 operator. Dispatcher William Kalaher was new to the job and had only been taking solo calls for two weeks when he...
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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