Top Comm Center Headlines
News & Articles
Slow fire response time irks captain of YPD (OH)
YOUNGSTOWN — A captain at the Youngstown Police Department, newly appointed to oversee its 911 center, said Lansdowne Boulevard resident Earl Minotti has reason to be upset that the response time to put out the fire that badly damaged his home early Thursday was...
What it’s like working 911 dispatch – WNPR : ProtectAndServe
I can verify if needed, but I was a 911 dispatcher for my local sheriff's department for about a year and a half. My instructor made a pretty chilling point that as a call taker, you're going to be the last person on earth to talk to some of these people, I've heard...
Regional dispatch center provides Canton with professional-level support (MA)
By Mary Ann Price Staff at the Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center moved into their new facility in January. This story originally appeared in the May 13 edition of the Citizen. A few years ago, Canton Fire Chief Charles Doody’s niece dialed 911 because...
Ventura County implements text message to 911 capabilities (CA)
Anyone in Ventura County can now reach 911 dispatchers via SMS text messages, public officials announced this week. The change is meant to improve accessibility for residents who may have difficulty making phone calls, such as those who are deaf, hard of hearing or...
Dorchester County learning lessons following 911 outage (SC)
“We have back up plans. We have what we refer to as continuity of operations plans to ensure that if there is a disruption that we can transfer the calls to a neighboring 911 center,” said Mario Formisano, Dorchester Interim Deputy County Administrator for Public...
Scioto Sheriff awards citizen and dispatcher after deputy gets into accident while on duty (OH)
SCIOTO COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) - The Scioto County Sheriff has given out two awards after a citizen helped a deputy who got into a crash on his way to an emergency. According to Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman, on May 15, Deputy Webster was responding to a call of...
Telecommunicators at Portland’s 9-1-1 center celebrated (OR)
Unlike in other years, this year’s Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications annual 911 Awards were not celebrated with pageantry, as at this celebration in 2019 – but these everyday heroes are worth celebrating, even if remotely. By David F. Ashton Although...
4 leaving 911 board are recognized (IL)
Four members of the Effingham County 911 were recognized this week for their serviced. For two, their terms are expiring and two others stepped down. Board Chairman Julie Stephens, who started on the board in 2016, and Board Treasurer Wayne Rubach, who also started in...
County considers upgrading radio dispatch equipment
Some local law enforcement officers are calling for an upgrade to the county’s aging radio dispatch equipment. During a Wednesday board of commissioners meeting, members of the Curry County Sheriff’s office made their case for upgrading the dispatch system, which...
Tennessee board reports Nashville bombing impact on 911, future plans
In the wake of the Nashville bombing that create extended outages for 66 public-safety answering points (PSAPs) AT&T has committed to improving its network resiliency, communications with 911 centers, and its backup-power capabilities, according to a report to the...
House OKs Ackerman legislation that would require 911 system to have over-the-phone CPR operators on staff (RI)
STATE HOUSE — The House of Representatives today approved legislation introduced by Rep. Mia Ackerman (D-Dist. 45, Cumberland, Lincoln) that would improve over-the-phone CPR instructions by requiring the 911 system to certify and staff individuals trained in...
Shrewsbury asks to share Worcester’s public safety radio frequencies (MA)
Photo by/Laura Hayes A radio site will be built at the fire station on Centech Boulevard as part of the project. By Laura Hayes, Contributing Writer SHREWSBURY — Shrewsbury is interested in using Worcester’s public safety radio frequency. Trying to make that possible,...
Raleigh-Wake 911 Answers Nearly 1,900 Calls A Month From Durham As The City Faces A Shortage Of Operators (NC)
DURHAM, NC (WNCN) – In some shifts, the Durham 911 call center has only two operators taking 911 calls, according to a Durham 911 dispatcher. In a city where an average of two shooting incidents a day, a 911 operator told CBS 17 in an interview on Wednesday that it...
Ventura County first responders now able to receive 9-1-1 text messages (CA)
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. - First responder agencies throughout Ventura County are now able to receive 911 text messages in the event of an emergency. The purpose of this function is to allow hearing and speech-impaired members of the community, as well as those in a...
ECC projects the need for dozens more dispatchers by 2023 (TN)
Nashville, TN - The Davidson County Emergency Communications Center is projecting a need for dozen of more dispatchers in the coming years to keep their call answer record as perfect as it has been during the pandemic. When your safety is on the line, Amber Doss is on...
Prince William County Improves 911 Response Time (VA)
Provided by Prince William County The Prince William County Department of Public Safety Communications today announced the implementation of the Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP), an alarm response program improving 911 response time, minimizing duplicate data...
It’s time to upgrade 9-1-1, the most critical of critical infrastructure
Law enforcement, fire, EMS, and 9-1-1 professionals handle over 240 million emergency 9-1-1 calls per year. Our 9-1-1 system is the most critical of critical infrastructure — relied upon nationwide every day to obtain assistance in a variety of life-or-death...
Holbrook Police Department, Holbrook Regional Emergency Communications Center Rescues Family Trapped by Coyote in Holbrook Town Forest (MA)
At approximately 11:40 a.m., the Holbrook Department of Public Works received a call from a female party who was walking with her two children in the Holbrook Town Forest when she was trapped on a walking trail about a mile out by a large coyote. The Holbrook Regional...
Some 911 services down in South Carolina Lowcountry (SC)
Fiber optic cable cut causing outages in Berkeley, Allendale, Colleton and Calhoun counties COLUMBIA, S.C. — Residents in five Lowcountry counties of South Carolina have been experiencing service outages due to a cut in an AT&T fiber optic line. While the company...
Threats to 911 dispatcher in Michigan brings new charges for ‘Yankee Patriot’ (MI)
Jonathan J. Munafo is charged in the Jan. 6 Washington, D. C. insurrection; he’s now accused of threatening a 911 dispatcher in Calhoun County a day earlier. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A New York man accused of punching an officer during the January attack on the U.S....
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
Subscribe to Comm Center News
Get the latest News, Articles, and Insights from AllThingsECC.com weekly in our newsletter.
PARTNERS
Stay Up to Date With The Latest News & Updates
Share Your Story
Join our community to share your experience and connect and collaborate with colleagues.
Join Our Newsletter
Get the latest News, Articles, and Insights from AllThingsECC.com weekly in our newsletter.
Follow Us
Stay connected with the latestEmergency Communications News, Articles & Information.