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City budget cuts police funding, boosts public safety alternatives and homelessness services (WA)
The Seattle City Council’s final $6.5 billion dollar 2021 budget cuts the Seattle Police Department (SPD) and other departments, allocates millions of dollars for community-based alternatives to public safety, replaces the Navigation Team, and expands tiny house...
OUC publicly apologizes five months after botched 911 call ends in death (DC)
WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - The Office of Unified Communications publically apologized to a D.C. mother on Tuesday, some five months after a D.C. dispatcher sent crews to the wrong address, delaying the 9-1-1 response time to a cardiac arrest emergency. Sheila Shepperd,...
911 dispatchers discuss protocol for answering COVID-19 patients (TX)
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Throughout the pandemic, first responders have been quick to help those who have contracted COVID-19. On some of those calls, people are suffering from worsening symptoms of the virus too. Dispatch Communications Supervisor Carla Turner...
Capital Fire ready to bail on public safety authority (VT)
MONTPELIER — The Capital Fire Mutual Aid System is getting ready to withdraw from the Central Vermont Public Safety Authority even as some of its members attempt to persuade city councils and select boards around the region to invest in upgrading the area’s aging...
Denton Police Department Launches Text Updates for 911 Callers (TX)
The Denton Police Department is launching text updates for 911 callers. According to the Denton Police Department, text messages powered by the SPIDR Tech platform will be automatically sent in English and Spanish when certain incidents are reported by mobile phone to...
County attempts to improve emergency communications
DAVIDSON COUNTY — New software could soon allow 911 calls in Davidson County to be processed more efficiently, reducing response times, according to county officials. The Davidson County Board of Commissioners gave staff the go-ahead earlier this month to negotiate a...
Widow of Chicago 911 dispatcher who died of COVID-19 now hospitalized in ICU on ventilator, son says
By Eric HorngTuesday, November 24, 2020 7:43PMCHICAGO (WLS) -- A Chicago 911 dispatcher died from COVID-19 earlier this month, and now his wife is seriously sick with the same disease. For the Lopez family of Archer Heights, the last few weeks have been...
9-1-1 emergency: Battling stress in the communications center
2020 has been a challenging year. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, recent civil unrest and an increasingly hostile political environment, the challenges are unlikely to go away anytime soon. Many Americans are experiencing heightened levels of stress and anxiety...
Wayne Township Proposes to Spend $6.9 Million for 911 Upgrade
WAYNE, NJ – A bond ordinance was introduced at the last Town Council meeting for the township to issue $6,560,000 in bonds or notes for financing part of a total of $6,905,000 for “Next Generation 911 radio infrastructure and telephone upgrades for the Police...
DeKalb County Telecommunicator Who Passed Away Honored (IL)
DeKalb County is mourning and honoring a deputy sheriff who passed away unexpectedly hours after working her last shift. A moment of recognition for telecommunicator Margaret Rice was held at Wednesday’s DeKalb County Board meeting. Sheriff Roger Scott says Rice’s...
I-TEAM: ‘He should be here today’ — Man’s death shows problems with Richmond County’s EMS (GA)
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - A family’s agony leads to new questions about safety across Richmond County. An Augusta daughter says her father’s death never should have happened and our I-Team investigates if Richmond County’s ambulance system plays a role. For three...
Seattle City Council votes to cut Seattle Police Budget, transfer 911 and parking enforcement out (WA)
The Seattle City Council passed its final vote on the 2021 City of Seattle Budget on Monday Nov. 23 choosing among other budget measures to make cutbacks to the Seattle Police. The total is nearly an $80 million dollar reduction including provisos and cuts according...
County signs contract for EMS ambulance service (IN)
AUBURN — DeKalb County Commissioners on Monday signed a five-year contract for ambulance service with Parkview Health. During negotiations for the new contract, county officials initially hesitated at allowing Parkview EMS to take over emergency dispatching of...
Jefferson County 9-1-1 Dispatch Donates Computers to First Responding Agencies in the County (MO)
Several first responding agencies in Jefferson County will be receiving new laptop computers thanks to a donation by Jefferson County 9-1-1 Dispatch. Jeffco 9-1-1 Dispatch Chief Travis Williams says 344 laptops, costing more than 850-thousand dollars was donated. 166...
DC family wants transparency after botched 911 call results in death
WASHINGTON - A D.C. mother and her family are calling for transparency after a recently released 9-1-1 audio recording confirmed that the dispatcher made a mistake and sent help to the wrong address. That emergency, which took place about five months ago,...
When 911 Needs 911
What is your plan when your center finds itself in need of 911? Other than the involuntary “Oh sugar (use expletive of your choice),” do you have a plan? Do you know where to find the plan? We deal with other people’s problems and emergencies day in and...
East Brunswick Moves from Nixle Alerts to “Civic Ready” Notification System (NJ)
EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ - The Township of East Brunswick has partnered with CivicReady for all Emergency and Township Notifications. The CivicReady Mass Notification System is a free communication service available to keep our residents, business owners, and the...
FOX61 – New Haven emergency services mourn dispatcher (CT)
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Emergency responders in New Haven are mourning the loss of a 9-1-1 dispatcher. Angela Yoxall-Hurlburt dedicated her life, to helping others. "She did her job with such eagerness, and such passion, it was infectious," said Erika Bogan, a New Haven...
County 911 call center sees jump in workload (AR)
Calls for service dispatched by the Garland County 911 Communications Center to first responders have increased since the county began dispatching volunteer fire departments in March 2019, the county's Office of Emergency Management told justices of the peace last...
COVID-19 outbreak reported at Sacramento County fire dispatch center (CA)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Nine people at a Sacramento County fire dispatch center have tested positive for COVID-19, officials said Friday. The outbreak happened at the Sacramento Regional Fire/EMS Communications Center, Executive Director Tyler Wagaman said in a...
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
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