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Tucson 911 system ‘critical but stable’ after top official resigns after just 14 months (AZ)
Tucson's troubled 911 system is in “critical but stable” condition after the sudden resignation of its top boss after a year on the job, the new interim leader said. Jamie O’Leary, director of the city’s Public Safety Communications Department that operates 911,...
CalOES Insider Touts Progress With Next-Gen 9-1-1 (CA)
It’s been drilled into us since we were kids: When there’s an emergency, grab a phone and dial 9-1-1. Those three magic numbers ensure that first responders — including police officers, firefighters and paramedics — come to our rescue. Unfortunately, most 9-1-1...
Flagler County Public Safety Telecommunicator Selected as the Florida Sheriffs Association 2021 Dispatcher of the Year (FL)
The Florida Sheriffs Association is pleased to announce that Public Safety Telecommunicator Specialist McKenzie Davis of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office has been selected as the 2021 Dispatcher of the Year. Each year, this award is presented at the FSA Winter...
MVECC First in Nation to Implement ‘EmergencyLocate’ Technology (NJ)
NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - Mountain Valley Emergency Communications Center (MVECC), the regional public safety answering point serving the communities of Summit, New Providence and Millburn, is the first public safety answering point in the country to opreationalize...
OAK LAWN’S 911 REGIONAL CENTER WILL RELOCATE (IL)
The Oak Lawn Village Board has approved plans by the Oak Lawn Regional Emergency Communications Center to relocate from Village Hall to a new site in the 9800 block of South Massasoit Avenue.A resolution regarding the future of the regional 911 center was approved at...
Caller As Customer
Once upon a time before I began my career in 911, I was a thriving, overly enthusiastic cashier with a popular grocery store chain based in the southeastern United States. Working at a store so renowned for its “premier customer service” and employees with “bright,...
How NIST Is Helping First Responders Stay Connected
Research focuses on ensuring first responder communication tools are designed to meet users’ operational needs. What do first responders do? It’s an easy question, and I used to think I knew the answer. Firefighters put out fires; police officers enforce the law;...
AT&T-FirstNet launches Band 14 HPUE, z-axis location
AT&T-FirstNet is now offering first responders vertical location capabilities in more than 100 markets, ahead of an April 2021 FCC deadline for having the technology in place to support 911 callers on mobile devices. The z-axis location information is one...
Amid security concerns, former police officer presents emergency app to House committee (MO)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — After the riot at the U.S. Capitol earlier this month, lawmakers have concerns about their ability to respond to a potential emergency within the Missouri statehouse. Guard911 aims to get the first officers on the scene faster than would normally...
Russell County Communications Director Deanise Howard Announces Retirement (KS)
Deanise Howard, Director of Russell County Communications, has announced her intent to retire in April 2021 after a 28-year career in public safety. Director Howard marked her 25th year with the City of Russell earlier this year, and at the time of her retirement, she...
911 dispatcher thwarts scam that surprised even police | News Break (ME)
FALMOUTH, Maine — Lee Ruby, a dispatcher with the Falmouth Police Department, gets more than a dozen calls a day from people, mostly elderly, who may have been the target of a scam. 'My grandson just called me and said he was in jail, he's stranded needs money,' said...
APCO Seeks Comments on Candidate National Standard
Alarm Monitoring Company to ECC CAD Automated Secure Alarm Protocol
The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International is seeking comments for the candidate American National Standards (ANS) Alarm Monitoring Company to Emergency Communications Center (ECC) Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP).
The candidate standard revision includes renaming in the title of the co-SDOs from “APCO/CSAA” to “APCO/TMA”, a renaming of “Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP)” to “Emergency Communications Center (ECC)”, and the introduction of schema version 3.4, including new data fields and message types available to the users of this standard and critical to the mission of public safety. An emphasis on address verification/synchronization between the alarm companies and the ECCs is included.
“The revision to the alarm exchange is a significant step in enabling a more interoperable data exchange between ECCs and the alarm industry,” said Margie Moulin, President of APCO International. “As more CAD and alarm automation providers take advantage of the ASAP program, the technical blueprint becomes increasingly important to the interface development process.”
The deadline for public review and comment on this candidate standard is March 15, 2021.
For questions regarding APCO Standards, please email [email protected] or contact the Standards/ACS Program Manager at (571) 289-7402. For more information on APCO standards activities, please visit our website.
APCO International® (www.apcointl.org)APCO International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide – and the welfare of the general public as a whole – by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach.
GENESEE COUNTY/911 Dispatcher retires after more than 27 years with the Sheriff’s Department (NY)
Through her career, Dispatcher Riccobono has earned several awards including six Commendation Awards, a Certificate of Appreciation, and a Meritorious Award for continuous excellence. She spent the majority of her career working overnights serving the citizens of...
9-1-1 service live in Fort Nelson (AK)
Residents in the Northern Rockies can now dial 9-1-1. The municipality said Wednesday that the emergency call service is now fully activated for mobile and landline phones after rigorous testing. The establishment of 9-1-1 service in the Northern Rockies represents a...
Chagrin Valley first in state to get mobile dispatch center (OH)
Chagrin Valley Dispatch received its $700,000 communications unit, a 40-foot-long truck that will serve as a mobile dispatch center. Dispatch Director Lt. Nick DiCicco said the unit will serve the 32 member communities in addition to residents of other regions and...
Roanoke County dispatcher signs off after 30 years of staying calm in crisis (VA)
Aleta Coleman had just walked into the breakroom to grab a soda when she heard the call come in. It was February 2008 and high winds had been battering the state. The Roanoke County E-911 center had readied itself for the usual mishaps that accompany bad weather...
911 Director Argraves files complaint against Sheriff Partin (TN)
Coffee County 911 Communication Director Diane Argraves has filed a complaint against Sheriff Chad Partin citing allegations of discrimination and hostile work environment. The complaint was filed earlier this month. The Times asked Argraves for a statement, but she...
ETSB OKs almost $800K for 911 reimbursements (IL)
WOOD RIVER — Nearly $800,000 in reimbursements to local 911 call centers for emergency calls was approved by the Emergency Telephone System Board at its meeting Wednesday. This is the fourth such payment since the payment system was begun in June 2019... READ MORE
Text to 911 now operational in Graham County (AZ)
People in emergency situations in Graham County can now get help by texting. As of Monday, people afraid to call 911 for help can text 911 instead thanks to new software paid for by the state, said Scott Howell, communications supervisor for the Graham County...
Fairfax County Board Names Interim FCPD Police Chief (VA)
David Rohrer, deputy county executive for public safety, will take over as interim police chief for the Fairfax County Police Chief on Feb. 1. Rohrer currently. oversees the Police and Fire and Rescue Departments, the Department of Public Safety Communications, the...
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.
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