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City Council committee advances ‘unified’ 911 system in hopes of improved service (MO)
A Kansas City, Missouri, City Council committee approved an ordinance Tuesday that would create a "unified 911" dispatch system for the Kansas City police and fire departments. READ FULL ARTICLE
Public safety deputy, OUC director, DC fire chief discuss 911 dispatch center improvements
WASHINGTON (7News) — 7News is learning more about the updates and improvements happening within D.C.'s Office of Unified Communications (OUC).
SLC emergency communications center gets 1,384 calls during Tooele Army Depot detonation (UT)
Residents across the Salt Lake Valley were startled by a series of loud booms around noon Thursday, with many reporting that their homes shook. READ FULL ARTICLE
Former Salem police dispatcher files gender discrimination lawsuit against city (OH)
A former Salem police dispatcher terminated on April 5, 2023 filed a lawsuit Friday accusing the city of gender discrimination and creating a hostile work environment based on gender discrimination. READ FULL ARTICLE
Northumberland County 911 dispatcher jailed, fired after work-related incident (PA)
SUNBURY — A Northumberland County 911 dispatcher faces misdemeanor assault and terroristic threat charges, and has been fired from his job, following a dispute Tuesday morning at the county communications center. Andrew Youngs, 39, of Orange Street, Northumberland,...
Tompkins County dispatchers move temporarily for renovations on Brown Road location (NY)
Tompkins County’s 9-1-1 dispatchers are now working out of an alternate location near Cornell University, as renovations are underway to the emergency communications center on Brown Road in Lansing, the emergency department said Tuesday in a statement. READ FULL...
Abbeville Police dispatcher on leave after indictment (LA)
An Abbeville Police dispatcher is on administrative leave after her indictment. Shawna Miguez, 52, was indicted in July on one count of felony sexual battery and one count of simple battery. She's accused of touching the genitals of a co-worker in November 2023, and...
Once critically understaffed, Henrico 911 dispatch closing in on zero vacancies (VA)
Henrico’s 911 operations have moved forward in leaps and bounds over the past 18 months. The office that was once critically low on 911 dispatchers and support staff is now close to having zero vacancies.
DC Mayor backs plan to allow retired police, fire, EMS officials to work for troubled OUC
WASHINGTON (7News) — D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser wants the council to back a measure that would allow retired police officers, firefighters and EMS personnel to work in the District’s troubled Office of Unified Communications (OUC).
Stark County joins rest of state in getting 911 services, with help from Peoria County (IL)
Stark County is now in the “21st century.” That was the reaction of Sheriff Steve Sloan, after the county’s 911 service went online last week. County and Illinois State Police leaders marked the occasion in Toulon on Monday afternoon. Prior to going online,...
Emergency dispatch center overwhelmed during Georgia high school shooting, 911 calls reveal
Calls from worried parents flooded the Barrow County 911 call center The emergency dispatch center fielding reports of an active shooter at a Georgia high school was overwhelmed with 911 calls as the situation unfolded, according to local reports and recordings...
In Our View: Recognition they deserve (KY)
We have every reason to feel safe in this area, not because we are immune to tragedy but because we have some of the best prepared and most dedicated first-responders available. If you don’t believe it, check Friday’s edition of The Daily Independent.
Washtenaw Metro Dispatch Report (MI)
People want to live in well and safe communities. A cornerstone of community safety and wellness is 911 emergency communications. The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) Metro Dispatch Center is the largest primary Public Safety (911) Answering Point (PSAP) in...
Heroic Efforts by Dover Police Communications Operators Save Lives in European Waters (DE)
On August 27, 2024, at approximately 3:36 PM, the Dover Police Department received a call from an individual in Albania, reporting that their brother’s boat was sinking in the English Channel off the coast of Dover, England. The caller had conducted an internet...
Over 50 public safety agencies honored for responses to Apalachee High School shooting (GA)
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Barrow County’s Board of Commissioners honored over 50 public safety departments and agencies that helped respond to the shooting at Apalachee High School in their meeting on Tuesday night. There are those who literally answered the...
911 dispatcher tries to defuse incident with Naples Mayor : ‘Stay away’
A Naples police dispatcher attempted to defuse a confrontation between a man and Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann moments before authorities arrived on scene last week, a 911 call shows. READ FULL ARTICLE
City of Oakland Completes Upgrade of Computer-Aided Dispatch System for 911 … (CA)
“Oaklanders deserve to feel assured that when they dial 911 in an emergency, someone will be answering swiftly to start dispatching the emergency responders they need. Today we’re taking a huge step to reinforce that confidence and to improve our emergency service to...
Westminster joins the public safety consortium (CO)
Westminster first responders, police, fire, EMS, and 911 services are now the sixth Front Range Communications Consortium (FRCC) member, according to a news release from August 23.
Cell Phone Connectivity Committee Tours Rural Cell Phone Infrastructure (CO)
“We know with better cell phone service, Coloradans can have peace of mind when traveling through the mountains. Today’s tour allowed us to not only engage with experts about some of the challenges of cell phone connectivity in rural Colorado, but to learn more about...
Cobb County 911 hosts 2024 Kids Expo (GA)
The number used in an emergency is on every police car and fire truck nationwide. Still, people have no idea what the person on the other end of the phone does when they call 911. The 2024 Cobb 911 Kids Expo offers community members, the opportunity to meet Cobb's 911...
UPCOMING WEBINARREGISTER>
FirstNet Independence: A governance case study
Thursday, February 19, 2026
1:30 PM PT | 2:30 PM MT | 3:30 PM CT | 4:30 PM ET
As we are near the time Congress must reauthorize FirstNet, there needs to be a discussion on the review of FirstNet Governance. Join former FirstNet Board Chairs Sue Swenson, Chief Richard Carrizzo, and former Vice-Chair Chief Jeff Johnson, as they discuss the value of an independent FirstNet Authority, program oversight, and the need to protect and advance the nation’s public safety network.
The creation of the FirstNet Authority marked a deliberate and historic policy decision by Congress to establish an independent, nationwide public-safety broadband authority insulated from traditional departmental control. Born out of the lessons of 9/11 and codified in the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, FirstNet was designed to operate with a singular mission: to ensure reliable, interoperable communications for the nation’s first responders. The discussion will examine the governance structure, rationale for its statutory independence, and oversight model.
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.
LISTEN TO PODCAST
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.
REGISTER
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