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Good News: 911 Dispatcher Marra Wargo Saved a Choking Dog
911 dispatcher Marra Wargo talks about getting a call about a choking dog and how she was able to talk the owner through performing the Heimlich maneuver on the dog. [VIDEO]
City of Odessa receives state award (TX)
The City of Odessa’s Public Safety Communications Department on Monday received the Telecommunicator Team of the Year Award from the Texas Association of Public Safety Communications Officials.In July 2020, APCO presented the same award to the city for their work...
“Call If You Can, Text If You Can’t” With New 9-1-1 Service in Mono County (CA)
The Mono County Sheriff’s Office is now offering Text to 9-1-1 services for our residents and visitors to Mono County to report emergencies. Dialing 9-1-1 in an emergency is still the preferred way to request help, and the public is reminded to “Call if you can, text...
Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications Introduces a New Smart911 Feature Allowing Residents to Opt-in to Sharing Camera Footage with the Chicago Police Department (IL)
The City of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management & Communications (OEMC) is introducing a new feature available as part of the Smart911 platform to assist the Chicago Police Department in better serving Chicago communities. Residents with a Smart911 safety...
Director hopes to fix 911 wait-time problems at state’s largest dispatch center (UT)
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Too many 911 callers are still waiting too long to speak to someone at the state’s largest dispatch center, auditors told a legislative audit committee Monday. The Salt Lake Valley Emergency Communications Center (VECC), which handles 25% of...
Honoring Chisago County dispatchers (MN)
Last month, the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office celebrated this year’s National Telecommunicators Week on April 11-17, by honoring its dedicated 911 Emergency Dispatchers. During an emergency, they are the first point of contact for the citizens of Chisago County,...
Next Generation 911 is coming to York County (PA)
The York County Commissioners recently approved an agreement with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency that will bring about the use of Next Generation 911. According to a news release, the upgraded service comes at no cost to the county and...
Auditors find lingering issues with 911 dispatch in Salt Lake County (UT)
A recent report shows Utah’s largest 911 dispatch system is still falling behind when it comes to response time. This latest report is a follow-up to an audit that was released in August, and that one showed there were serious problems with the 911 response times for...
Rath, Hawley call on Albany to release 9-1-1 funding
Today, Senator Rath called on the Department of Budget (DOB) to release critical funding grants for emergency services. Senator Rath was joined by Assemblyman Steve Hawley, Genesee County Legislature Chair Rochelle Stein, Undersheriff Brad Mazur, Genesee County...
Durham budget proposal includes 2-cent property tax hike, $9 million more in public safety funding (NC)
DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) – The budget recommended for the City of Durham would include a 2-cent raise in the property tax rate — most of which would go toward an affordable housing bond voters passed in 2019, a news release said Monday. The budget was recommended by city...
Roswell 911 earns international accreditation (GA)
Roswell 911 has been recognized by The International Academies of Emergency Dispatch as an Accredited Center of Excellence for emergency fire dispatching. IAED is the standard-setting organization for emergency dispatch services worldwide. Accreditation — and...
HigherGround Announces Live911, New Technology For First Responders, Has Saved 5 Lives In 5 Months
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HigherGround, a developer of solution-based software that captures, stores, and retrieves telecommunications, location, and radio data, announced its Live911 technology has reduced response times and saved at least five lives since...
‘We are right there’: Minnesota Legislature on the cusp of a budget agreement, leaders say
ST. PAUL — Minnesota legislative leaders burned the midnight oil and were poised to release state budget targets Monday, May 17, the officials said early in the day. After a week and a half of closed-door talks, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake,...
Hang-ups cause difficulty for dispatchers, responders (MO)
Early hang-up calls are a common problem for Buchanan County dispatchers, something that can make the process more difficult for emergency responders. Sometimes callers hang up out of frustration or thinking it will lead to a faster response time, Melody Reese, a...
Answering the Call: New Alerting Solutions
Photo courtesy of FirstNet Authority Perhaps the most pervasive lifestyle changer of the past 25 years is the cellphone. Many people seem to be connected if not by the hip, then at least by the thumbs, to these ubiquitous devices. eDispatches leverages them as tools...
WATCH: New radio system doesn’t address downtown coverage gap (AR)
The $642,312 change order to the city's contract with Motorola will help complete the city's migration to the Arkansas Wireless Information Network, but it won't guarantee radio coverage downtown or at the Lakeside School District. A resolution approving the change...
911 funding unpaid by New York State
New York State's Sheriff's Association, 911 Coordinators Association, Emergency Management Association, Fire Coordinators Association and Association of Counties have joined together in the following appeal to the state government regarding the promised yet...
BACKING THE BLUE (PA)
The Clearfield community came together Sunday to pray for those who serve their municipalities as first responders. A Blue Mass was held at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Clearfield, on behalf of police officers, firefighters, emergency medical services...
SERESA’s first — and only — director to retire
A regional 911 dispatch center that serves south Macomb County communities is preparing to say farewell to the only director it has ever known. Cherie Bartram last week announced she was retiring as executive director of the South East Regional Emergency Services...
Pilot Program to Help Ohio City Triage 9-1-1 Calls
The city of Columbus is rolling out a four-to-six-week pilot program on Monday that will help determine whether 9-1-1 calls need an emergency response by police and firefighter-medics or by others, such as social workers or clinicans who are better equipped to deal...
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.
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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.
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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.
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